Caring For Your Family’s Oral Health: 4 Things Every Mom Should Know

Oral health is often taken for granted, with people thinking that brushing their teeth daily is enough to keep their teeth and gums healthy. They fail to realize that oral health is more than just about keeping your teeth clean. It also concerns the condition of your gums, teeth, and the complete oral-facial system that affects how you speak, smile, and chew.

You may not realize it now, but bad oral health conditions can affect other parts of your body from childhood to adulthood. It has even been associated with chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. In the US alone, around $45 billion worth of losses in terms of production costs and more than 30 million school hours are wasted each year due to emergency dental care. 

Those issues are why your oral health should be included in your overall wellness regimen, which entails discipline, proper nutrition, and professional dental care. Here are four things you should pay attention to when taking care of your family’s oral health:

1. Maintain Proper Oral Hygiene

Aside from brushing your teeth at least twice daily, make a habit of flossing and using mouthwash regularly. This ensures that even the bacteria or small food residue stuck on your teeth, gums, and tongue don’t get to stay inside your mouth for a long time.

Train your children early and get them started on healthy oral habits while still young. Teach them the proper way of brushing their teeth, paying particular attention to the area where the gums and teeth meet because this is where bacteria usually like to hide. 

You should also be conscious of the products you use when cleaning your mouth. Check if your toothpaste has fluoride, which is a crucial ingredient that helps protect your teeth. Fluoride strengthens the enamel, slows the formation of cavities, and promotes tooth remineralization. Then choose a mouthwash with antibacterial properties, and don’t forget to change your toothbrush every three months.

2. Practice Healthy Habits

The food you eat has a considerable effect on your oral health. A well-balanced diet that includes grains, nuts, produce, fish, and dairy is necessary to supply your body with the nutrients it needs to be in good condition, including having healthy teeth and gums. 

On the other hand, sugar is one of the most damaging types of food for your teeth. Thus, sugary food must only be taken in limited quantities and in less frequent intervals. This is because sugars are converted into acids when processed by the body, and these acids can erode the enamel that protects the teeth, making them susceptible to decay. 

Tobacco is another ingredient that can significantly damage your oral health. Aside from causing stains on your teeth, tobacco also puts you at risk of contracting gum diseases like gingivitis or periodontitis, sometimes leading to oral cancer.  

3. Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Don’t wait for a dental emergency to happen before you think of visiting your dentist. This should be a part of your routine, even when you feel good and don’t think anything is wrong with your oral health.  

According to Dr. Antani, an ABQ dentist, the recommended visit frequency is about once or twice a year. Your dentist will be able to do a more thorough cleaning that your toothbrush just can’t accomplish, such as removing hardened tartar and plaque from your teeth. He can also get you screened for oral cancer, allowing for early detection and treatment if any symptoms are observed.

If you have a baby, you can have his teeth and gums checked after he turns one. While this may seem an unnecessary cost, consider it as an investment for your oral health because early preventive care will save you from big-ticket spending in the future. 

4. Repair Any Tooth Damage Immediately

Despite proper oral hygiene and healthy habits at home, accidents can cause damage to your teeth. For example, you could have bitten on hard candy or bumped on a hard surface which broke off a portion of your tooth.

When this happens, you need to see your dentist immediately, even if you think that the damage is not that bad. It is best to have the fractured part repaired before it gets bigger or becomes infected, in which case you will lose the whole tooth. 

There are different ways of repairing tooth damage, and your dentist should be able to explain your options and the corresponding restoration procedures. For small cracks, your dentist can perform dental filling or bonding, while a more extensive fracture may require the use of a dental cap or crown.