Dental Routine: Infected teeth or inflamed gums can have a lasting negative impact on the entire body. If diseases such as tooth decay and periodontitis remain untreated for a longer period of time, the resulting bacteria may spread throughout the body. The consequences can be in the form of pneumonia, back and neck pain, heart attack or even stroke.
How a Bad Tooth Can Affect You
A bad tooth (cavity, broken, infected) can easily weaken the entire body. There is a ripple effect that may start with a disturbed jaw joint, which can then lead to back pain and headaches, or neck aches and ringing in the ears. Teeth with problems can spread the infection to the rest of the body and cause a massive disruption to your health and body.
Prevention & Maintenance
Go to your dentist for a check-up at least twice a year in order to detect tooth, mouth and jaw diseases at an early stage and keep your teeth! Regular preventive examinations and early treatment will keep your mouth – and the rest of your body – healthier.
Brush Your Teeth Twice Daily
Brushing your teeth should be part of your daily dental routine, both in the morning after breakfast and in the evening before going to bed. Brush your teeth thoroughly for at least two minutes. (There is an exception. Be careful not to brush immediately after consuming citrus fruits and juices as this will damage the enamel.) Don’t forget that interdental spaces are important too! Use dental floss to reach these tricky spots between teeth.
Use Fluoride Toothpaste
Fluoride is indispensable in dentistry. The amount of fluoride that we absorb through toothpaste is completely harmless and fluoride helps to maintain teeth, prevents tooth decay and hardens the enamel.
Beware of Tooth Whitening Toothpaste
Consider avoiding kinds of toothpastes that are supposed to whiten your teeth. These often contain an increased concentration of abrasives, with which they gradually “sand” your teeth and leave them vulnerable. If you are interested in tooth whitening, it can be done professionally in our office.
Use the Right Toothbrush
Make the choice of your toothbrush dependent on the individual needs of your teeth. Hard toothbrushes are not well tolerated for sensitive gums and can damage enamel. Soft toothbrushes are more suitable for a sensitive mouth and are generally recommended by dentists for your regular dental routine.
Use Mouthwash
In order to achieve an optimal cleaning result, you should use mouthwash in addition to a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss. This reduces dental plaque and can be particularly useful if you are not able to brush immediately after eating but still want fresh breath. When choosing your mouthwash, choose one that is ADA approved. In addition, a rinse with warm sea salt water or the sugar substitute xylitol can inhibit the bacteria in the mouth when commercial mouth rinse is not available.
