Maintaining proper oral hygiene is essential for your overall health and well-being. Long-term effects of poor dental hygiene include gum disease, bone loss, tooth decay, and tooth loss. These factors contribute to poor dental health:
Poor Oral Hygiene
Failing to brush your teeth often between meals may result in plaque, a sticky film of germs that builds on your teeth. If not treated, the enamel may be irreparably damaged, resulting in permanent loss of gum tissue, bone, and teeth over time. Brushing your teeth after every meal and flossing at least once daily helps remove all food particles and leftover sugars.
Poor Nutrition
Consuming sugary foods subjects your teeth to acids and erosive effects for an extended period increases your risk of cavities and gum disease. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and calcium-rich foods are excellent snack foods since they have high nutrient content and added benefits for cleaning teeth. Chewing on crunchy vegetables like carrots and celery stimulates salivation, which aids in the removal of food particles and bacteria that create plaque.
Tobacco Use and Smoking
Using tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco, pipes, and cigarettes, increases your risk of gum disease, specifically periodontitis. Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to get gum disease. Tobacco use weakens your immune system, making it less effective in preventing illnesses such as gum and tooth infections. Using tobacco also makes it hard for your gums to heal after being damaged.
Medical Issues
Certain cancer treatments that use radiation on the head and neck can exacerbate dental caries by changing the content of saliva and stimulating enormous bacterial growth.
Dry Mouth
Chronic dry mouth is another cause of poor oral health. Saliva reverses damage caused by demineralization. Saliva has some minerals like phosphate and calcium that help to repair enamel, replenishing nutrients depleted during an "acid attack."
About Us | Dentist Battle Ground, WA | Excel Dental Your first step to a healthier, more beautiful smile is just a phone call away! Call Excel Dental in Battleground, WA to schedule an appointment today! Excel Dental - Burke Jardine, DMD, 1401 Northwest 1st St., Battleground, WA 98604 : (360) 369-3930 : exceldentalnw.com : 10/14/2024 : Tags: dentist Battle Ground WA :