Interesting Facts About Teeth and the Dentist

The dentist is an important health care practitioner for everyone and for more reasons than many people think. Many of the dental practitioners' patients think this type of doctor is just there to fill cavities and clean their teeth. This isn't true. Practicing good oral healthcare will spill over into many regions of well-being. Individuals should see their dentists from toddlerhood through old age.

1) Going to the dentist will keep your mouth, gums and teeth healthy but that's not all. Diabetes complications, heart disease, clogged arteries, premature birth and oral cancer can all be curtailed by going to the DDS of your choice.

2) Swimming pools can be hazardous to your tooth enamel. Yes, this is a fact. If the chlorine levels in a swimming pool are kept at high levels, this excess chlorination can eat away the surface enamel of each tooth. An individual who swims quite often in heavily chlorinated pools should take extra precautions such as wearing a mouth guard or keeping lips sealed shut while under water. This could pertain to an athlete or one who swims laps at the gym for exercise.

3) Soda pop is terrible for your smile. Americans love their soda! Have you ever noticed people filling up those gigantic Big Gulp cups at the local convenience mart? Each American drinks an average of more than fifty gallons of soda every year. Since lots of people don't drink it, that means there are others who drink way more than the national average. This stuff is a known corrosive responsible for cavities and obesity. This information is nothing to smile about!

4) Without proper dental care, a person can lose his or her teeth before he or she is able to collect Social Security. Studies show that one quarter of the population over age sixty has lost all of their teeth. Social security benefits start at age sixty-two. Proper oral hygiene can allow patients to be one of the other three who still have their choppers past age sixty-two. Some examples of good care includes brushing teeth twice a day, flossing at least once a day, limiting soft drinks, avoiding sugary snacks between meals and having a dental check up every six months or more depending on recommendations of the dentist.

5) Some medicines are detrimental to tooth enamel during childhood and adolescence. Examples include antibiotics, tetracycline and more. Check with your doctor before giving medications to young children, teens or taking any prescription drugs while pregnant or nursing a baby.

With optimum dental hygiene habits such as brushing, flossing and going for checkups, a person can keep their teeth for their lifetime. Paying attention to other details such as avoiding unprotected swims in excessively chlorinated swimming pools, cutting down on soft drink intake, and using precautions with prescription medication can add to the continued probability of bright healthy smiles. Keeping up with regular visits to the dentist will also keep a patient's entire body healthier. Now that's something to smile about.