4 Tips to Overcome Oral Health Issues
Oral health includes the overall health of the entire oral system, including teeth, gums, jaw, and the ability to smile, bite and speak. It involves your facial aesthetics that boost confidence and self-esteem. A misaligned jaw or broken and uneven teeth would not only lower confidence but could also lead to further dental complications. From cavities and gum disease to foul breath and yellowing teeth, oral health issues can significantly impact the quality of healthy life. That’s why taking care of your oral health is paramount.
As per the 2020 LA Smile Survey by the LA County Department of Public Health Oral Health Program, the evidence of tooth decay in kindergarten kids decreased from 66% to 55% over the last decade, while the percentage of kids with untreated tooth decay decreased from 26% to 20%. While we’re witnessing significant improvements in dental and oral care in LA County, there’s still room for improvement.
The 2021 Dental Report by the LA Department of Oral Health found that over 75% of adults and 50% of children in the County do not visit their dentist annually, with 4,762 cavities and pharynx cases per 100,000 people in LA.
It shows that people do not pay as much attention to dental hygiene as they should. So, let’s assess some tips you can follow to overcome oral health issues.
1. Consult Dental Surgeons
Getting dental surgical procedures like jaw surgery, wisdom tooth removal, dental implants, and facial reconstruction from top dental surgeons in LA could solve problems of overcrowding, decaying or broken teeth, facial trauma, sleep apnea, and other health issues.
The LA-COMS (Los Angeles Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) offers all dental surgical procedures under one roof. Also available in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver, Brentwood, Palisades, Bel Air, and West LA, CA, it houses a team of qualified and board-certified dental surgeons from the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS).
You can visit the board’s official website and verify the status of your dental surgeon. The doctors at the LA Center have a combined experience of over 60 years, with more than 20,000 successful dental surgeries from more than 300 satisfied patients.
However, assess the credibility and experience before visiting a dental surgeon to ensure optimal quality care. A decade of experience shows the commitment of dental surgeons towards their profession, and it helps to consult leaders in jaw surgery and facial aesthetics surgical procedures for maximum satisfaction.
2. Quit Smoking
Smoking and consuming tobacco products can drastically impact your oral health. It increases the risk of gum disease, weakens the immune system, thus diminishing the strength of your teeth, and can result in red, swollen gums, gum recession, and, eventually, tooth loss.
Smoking also leads to bad breath and stains the teeth. It’s because of the chemicals in tobacco that stain tooth enamel and are hard to get rid of by brushing teeth. You may need to consult a dentist, but quitting smoking can speed up healing and decrease the chances of further staining.
The CDC offers several tips on how to quit smoking, as it can be challenging, especially if you are a chain smoker. You can use nicotine replacement therapy in OTC or prescription form, take medications to manage withdrawal symptoms, seek counseling, or join support groups. You can also combine long-acting NRT with short-acting forms to increase your chances of quitting.
3. Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Daily oral hygiene practice is the best way to overcome oral health issues. World Health Organization (WHO) suggests a well-balanced diet free of sugars and high in fruits and vegetables. Moreover, drink water containing fluoride. Avoid drinking filtered water as it becomes devoid of fluoride and minerals after filtration. Instead, choose boiled water that retains all the valuable minerals and fluoride essential for your teeth and gums.
Regularly brushing your teeth – twice daily – with fluoride-containing toothpaste of 1000 to 1500 ppm and a soft-bristled toothbrush can ensure proper hygiene and boost oral health. Spend two minutes brushing your teeth, gums, and tongue. Lastly, pay attention to hard-to-reach areas. You can also apply your toothbrush softly on the lips to eliminate dead skin cells and clean them thoroughly. It’s a better alternative to investing in a lip scrub. If your doctor recommends a certain way of brushing your teeth, follow their instructions.
Also, remember to floss once a day, especially if you eat something chewy or sticky, to extract the remains between your teeth. Additionally, wear protective equipment when indulging in sports or riding a bike to prevent facial injuries.
You can also use mouthwash for nice-smelling breath. Invest in an antimicrobial mouthwash containing fluoride, cetylpyridinium chloride, peroxides, or chlorhexidine. Each of these ingredients targets a different area.
4. Limit Alcohol Intake
Alcohol is a dehydrating agent that limits saliva production in the mouth. Saliva is an important enzyme that breaks down food particles in your mouth after biting and chewing, washes away food particles, and prevents the growth of bacteria in the mouth. When saliva production stops due to alcohol consumption, the mouth becomes dry, and you may develop a dry mouth or xerostomia condition. A dry mouth increases the probability of gum and tooth diseases and bad breath.
Highly pigmented alcoholic beverages such as red wine or dark liquors also stain teeth. These drinks contain coloring agents that penetrate the tooth enamel and show visible stains. So, limit your alcohol intake and only take it in moderation. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the CDC define moderate drinking as one glass or less for women (daily) and two drinks or less for men.
Likewise, drinking plenty of water is crucial to compensate for the dehydration caused by drinking, even if you do not feel thirsty.
Read More: Ten Essential Tips for Good Oral Health
Conclusion
Oral health is undeniably as important as your overall health and can significantly reduce the chances of oral diseases. Therefore, ensure you visit the dentist at least once a year and get the required dental procedures to minimize the long-term impact of inadequate oral health. Moreover, quit smoking and drinking as they can stain your teeth and lead to mouth diseases. Various resources are available these days to help you quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption. Lastly, practice good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and using toothpaste and mouthwash containing fluoride. Also, ensure to drink fluoride-rich water containing minerals essential for oral health.
