Healthy Life Includes Healthy Dental Practices

While focusing on fitness may have brought you this far, there is more to a healthy lifestyle than training, nutrition, and fitness. Health expands beyond this to include everyday practices like healthy dental routines. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, standard dental practices can be easily forgotten or overlooked.

Research has shown a correlation between oral health and overall health. After all, poor oral hygiene can lead to tooth loss, pain and issues with self-confidence. In turn, this leads to speech issues, malnutrition, and even challenges in school, work, or personal life.  

Oral health problems can be easily prevented by incorporating key practices into your health regimen. These practices can become just as routine as your decisions about nutrition and fitness. 

Check out some of these practices below!  

Regular Dentist Visits 

Dental visits should be biannual and include a routine dental exam and cleaning. The cleaning will allow your hygienist to remove hardened tartar and plaque that can lead to other issues. While examining your mouth, the dentist can look for signs of gum disease, cavities, mouth cancer, and other issues. 

Finding a good dentist is the first step to incorporate oral health into your health routine. There are experts able to help you everywhere, like those at Valley Ridge Dental Centre, where scheduling a routine exam is as easy as visiting their website at https://valleyridgedentalcentre.com/. 

Brush Regularly (But Don’t Be Aggressive) 

The golden rule of brushing your teeth is to do it twice a day. This is essential to remove bacteria and plaque – but only really matters if the technique is right. Brushing your teeth correctly means using small circular motions and brushing the top, front, and back of each tooth. It should take about 2 to 3 minutes if done right. 

At the same time, brushing too aggressively does not help either. It can affect tooth sensitivity and cause permanent enamel damage or gum erosion. You should be firm when brushing to make sure you clean properly but don’t hurt yourself.

Fluoride Fresh 

Fluoride is a natural element that can help prevent cavities. It is commonly found in toothpaste and mouthwash. However, not all dental products have fluoride so always check. 

Fluoride can help prevent tooth decay. In fact, studies have shown brushing and flossing alone do not prevent cavities. A combination of these and fluoride does. Many cities have added fluoride to the water supply to help keep teeth healthy. Local governments can let you know if there is fluoride in the water. 

Flossing Matters 

Perhaps one of the biggest lies we tell dentists is that yes, we do indeed floss. Flossing is so important and should be done once a day. Flossing reaches the part of the tooth a toothbrush cannot. It removes bacteria and plaque and dislodges food stuck between teeth. 

No Smoking 

In addition to the myriad of other health concerns smoking poses, it can also lead to oral health issues. The immune system is weakened through smoking and slows down healing. It leads to yellowed teeth and bad breath. All around, smoking is not good for your health. 

Less Sugar and Starches 

Another common rule of thumb is the knowledge that sugar leads to cavities. While your nutrition routine might have you avoiding candy and desserts already, there is also sugar in processed foods. Starches also cause acid in your mouth when the bacteria start to break them down. That can lead to tooth decay as the acid weakens your teeth. Keep an eye on what you eat and make sure if you have eaten a lot of sugar to brush thoroughly.

Drink Water

Sugary beverages include juice, soda, and more. These all lead to a higher risk of cavities as the acidity in them can weaken teeth’s strength. Water is a much healthier alternative and important to keep you hydrated in your fitness journey. 

Stay Consistent 

Overall, many of these practices are ones taught to us as young children. Whether it has fallen to the wayside or become less of a priority, oral health is important to your overall health. Following these practices and creating good habits will ultimately help in your nutrition, health, and fitness.