Did you know that what we see in your mouth can be an indicator of your overall health?
Sometimes we take our oral health for granted. But keeping a healthy mouth means that you are contributing to your overall health and scientists continue to find new connections between oral health and general health every year. Your mouth can show signs of nutritional deficiencies. Many oral lesions occur because of nutritional deficiencies or tooth problems. The good news is that, today, we are able to prevent almost all oral disease from occurring it should be the expectation that Americans will keep all or most of their original teeth throughout their entire life!
Unfortunately, even with all our awareness about good oral health care, millions of Americans still fail to see the dentist on a regular basis. Dental caries, or cavities, remains one of the most chronic diseases of childhood. There are a few simple steps that we suggest our community take to help prevent dental and oral health problems.
Practice Good Oral Health Habits
Be sure you and your children are brushing your teeth at least twice a day. Flossing is equally important as there is zero chance your toothbrush will get in between your teeth with tight contacts. Try to get in at least one flossing per day, preferably at night before you sleep and your salivary flow decreases.
Rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash is a great way to keep bacteria that normally live in your mouth in check. We follow the recommendations of the American Dental Association and encourage the use of fluoride to protect and restore enamel and make teeth more cavity resistant.
Finally, let your dentist be the judge. Don’t fall behind on your twice a year dental check ups because small cavities become big cavities and undetected gum irritation can become periodontal bone loss in a surprisingly short amount of time. Be sure you and all your family members see your dentist at least every six months. Your dentist can get hard to reach plaque and calculus that your toothbrush cannot get. In addition, your dentist may be able to identify other problems that may be happening with your overall health as they complete your oral examination.
If you have any questions about the health of your teeth, gums, or oral tissues and how that relates to your general health, please ask us!
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly and newly renovated office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults and are proud to be Premier Providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen services. The ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including those that may have special needs reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy and customized care options. We pioneered valued hospital affiliations to allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
