The Basics Of Optimum Dental Health

Gum disease is often thought of as an oral disease of neglect. If you do not treat your teeth and gums well and give them what they need then they will break down and develop a multitude of problems. In this way, your teeth and gums are no different than the rest of the human body.

The basics of optimum dental health in order to not have to worry about gum disease in the future are really quite simple. It is important to brush and floss the teeth on a regular basis and to get enough fluoride to strengthen the teeth and fight cavities from developing. It is also essential to eat a healthy diet and to receive regular dental care from a qualified dental professional. This includes regular dental exams and cleanings.

It is essential to take exceptional care of the mouth, gums and teeth from the very start of life in order to prevent future gum disease from setting in. The first set of teeth that grows in must be taken care of just as well as permanent teeth. Take care of your baby’s teeth by making sure that they get cleaned every day but make sure you do so gently. Be aware that children under the age of two should never have toothpaste used on their teeth.

Never allow your baby to fall asleep in his or her crib with a bottle of milk or juice as both can be damaging to the baby’s small teeth.

Once your children are old enough to brush their teeth teach them the proper way to do it and make sure they understand how important it is to keep their teeth clean on a regular basis. Make oral hygiene an important priority fro the whole family. Take your children to the dentist on a regular basis and make sure they see you doing the same for yourself.

Be aware that fruits, vegetables and cheeses are all very healthy and nutritious foods for your older children. Give them these foods for snacks as opposed to potato chips, donuts, candy or cookies.

Be aware that research has proven that too much stress can be bad for your teeth in the same way that it is bad for other parts of your body as well as your mind. Increasing proof has shown that there is a definitive link between gum disease and high levels of stress. Researchers closely scrutinized 57 percent of recent studies done that showed a positive correlation between stress, gum disease and a number of emotional symptoms such as anxiety, depression, sadness, feelings of hopelessness, loneliness and distress.

Researchers discovered many years ago that a certain level of cell damage occurs to the mouth as a result of brushing them. Surprisingly this may actually be good for the gums. The bristles of a toothbrush can tear small holes in the epithelial cells that line the gums as well as the tongue resulting in a brief split that heals over. Research is showing that the gums get used to this mechanical form of stress and as a result become healthier and thicker and therefore more resistant to gum disease.