When it comes to hygiene—especially oral hygiene—it affects your whole body, not just the part that you’re taking care of. Your mouth is a portal to the rest of your body and what you allow in it will also affect every part of you. That’s why your San Diego dentist with Mod Squad Dental is here to help you improve your oral health to better your overall health. Here are some ways that you can keep both your mouth and body in excellent shape.
ORAL HEALTH AFFECTS OVERALL HEALTH
Taking care of your teeth and gums takes consciousness on your part. Your mouth is affected by what you eat, what you drink, and how well you maintain it at home. Also, it’s important to visit your dentist regularly for aesthetic aspects and dental cleanings. Here are a few things you can do to keep your smile strong outside of our office:
Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes per session.
When you brush your teeth in the morning, you’re removing dental bacteria that grew and multiplied in your mouth overnight while you were sleeping. When you brush your teeth at night, you’re working to remove food particles and leftover debris that may have built up throughout the day. It’s important to brush for two minutes a day to effectively reach all areas of your mouth.
Floss your teeth at least once a day.
Flossing is an important part of a dental routine—no matter how tedious it is! When you skip flossing, you’re missing just about 35% of the tooth surface in your mouth. This leaves your mouth susceptible to tooth decay, carries, and gum disease.
Stay hydrated with water.
Sodas and juice can be very harmful to your teeth because of their excessive amounts of sugar. When sugar and dental bacteria mix, it turns into a damaging acid that erodes your teeth. Replace your sugary drinks with water—a natural substance that not only keeps your whole body hydrated and healthy—but it also helps produce natural saliva to wash out your mouth.
Include vitamin rich foods in your diet (vegetables and fruits).
High fiber foods are some of the best foods for your smile. Their crunchy nature naturally scrubs your smile free of debris when you chew and simultaneously create stimulate saliva flow. Creating more natural saliva is beneficial to your teeth because it neutralizes acids, contains natural calcium, and even embodies natural phosphates that help rebuild minerals that keep your smile strong.
Avoid using tobacco products and limit your alcohol consumption.
Tobacco is one of the worst substances for your teeth. Not only does it stain your teeth overtime, but it can make your gums unhealthy and cause tooth loss. It also directly affects your overall health and can cause oral cancer as well as lung cancer.
Keep your dental appointments at Mod Squad Dental.
Finally, one of the best things you can do for your body is visit your dentist for periodic dental appointments. Dr. Friedman and Dr. Grahl complete thorough dental exams to search for dental problems. We also provide great preventive services to keep your smile and full body far from health problems. Contact us today to schedule your next dental appointment.
