People often forget just how important having a strong set of functional teeth are to your health. Without the ability to bite and chew comfortably and effectively, we would have a pretty tough time eating our meals each day that keep us alive!
When our teeth or gums are unhealthy, it can be very painful to bite, chew and even to swallow and talk. I am sure that most of us can remember just how painful experiencing toothache can be, let alone the pain caused by an abscess or from a broken tooth.
But apart from obvious problems such as these mentioned above, unhealthy teeth and gums can contribute to systemic health conditions and can negatively affect our general well-being and mental health.
The Importance of a Nice Smile
While having a nice smile may not be at the top of everyone’s health wish-list, having a nice smile can project your personality and show off your self-confidence and friendly disposition. This is why dentistry is a critical part of your health care practices that can really boost your self esteem and well-being. A warm and friendly smile is just as important, if not more so, as owning a nice car or flashy jewellery.
Proper Teeth Function
Having teeth that function as they naturally should is essential for maximising your nutritional intake. Chewing your food is the very first stage of digestion and it is necessary to be able to chew your food thoroughly and mix it with saliva in the mouth so that you can swallow food easily without choking. Having unhealthy teeth and gums that don’t function correctly or cause you pain when you eat can make you dread mealtimes and lead you to skipping meals that could seriously affect your health.
Neglecting your oral health through ignoring problems, a lack of regular brushing and avoiding attending dental check-ups with your dentist can all lead to serious issues further down the line. The longer you leave visiting your dentist, the worse your issues can become often leading to more intervention being needed to put things right.
Another important area of dental health to recognise the links between oral health and heart health. Neglected dental problems can lead to systemic conditions developing where bacteria from the mouth can more easily travel into the blood stream, causing more internal health problems.
The Purpose of Regular Dental Visits
The main aim of having regular dental check-ups is to ensure that your teeth and gums are in good health and are working perfectly. Your dentist is a trained medical professional, so while most people associate dentists with simply maintaining their teeth, most are unaware that your dentist will also be looking out for anything unusual that could indicate other health concerns that you may not be aware of.
Don’t forget that having a good oral hygiene routine at home between dental check-ups is very important, but it can also go a long way to help prevent the development of cavities. Your dentist will check for signs of decay at your regular check-up and can talk to you about the best way to brush your teeth and the specific areas of your mouth that you should pay extra attention to, such as forgetting to brush behind your back teeth, or flossing more regularly.
Don’t put off your next dental check-up. There is more to your regular dental appointments that you realise!
