Ideal Goals to Set for Your Oral Health

Good oral health is important. Not only does it make you look and feel better, and reduce the potential for bad breath and other offensive conditions, but it is better for your overall health as well. Poor oral health can lead to general health problems because it can interfere with your ability to eat properly, can affect saliva production and under certain conditions can cause infections to spread throughout your body. The inflammation that is caused by oral health problems can also cause issues with your general health.

What Should I Do for My Oral Health?
The first goal you should set is to meet with your dentist once a year for an annual check-up. This would include x-rays and a teeth cleaning. This is important because your dentist can spot cavities forming on your teeth that don’t give you any problems yet and that you can’t see with the naked eye. These cavities are usually repaired easily and at a much lower cost than cavities that are large enough to cause pain or sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures.

Along with this goal, you should commit to getting your teeth cleaned six months after your annual check-up. Though you brush regularly, you can’t reach the spaces your dentist can because he has specialized tools he can use to each these areas. Your dentist also has more powerful cleaning agents than you can purchase over-the-counter.

Another goal is to purchase a soft-bristled brush and use it twice a day; when you wake up in the morning and before you go to sleep. And while you are setting goals for your oral health don’t forget your tongue. Your tongue can hide a lot of bacteria and food particles in its ridges. Either gently brush your tongue with your toothbrush or buy a tongue-cleaner. If you have any questions, or if you would like to learn more, please call us today at (903) 231-6605.