There's more to dental health than brushing

Think just brushing twice each day is sufficient to keep your teeth healthy? Think again. Here's why you should be paying closer interest to your dental health.
Brushing twice a day and visiting the dentist twice each year are a good start, but there's more to caring for your teeth. Several dentists recommend why you should start taking better care of your teeth today, and how it can affect your overall health. The number one piece of advice is start flossing. Here are five good reasons to make your teeth a priority.

Forget wrinkles- your smile will age you

As you get older, your teeth can appear discolored or yellowed if you don't take proper care of them. If you clench or grind your teeth, they can also appear shorter as you age. To prevent your smile from aging dentists recommends getting fitted for a night guard to prevent your teeth from being worn away. They also recommends brushing with a whitening toothpaste and rinsing with a salt water solution to kill unwanted bacteria.

Flossing is easy and cleans more than you think

If flossing consistently is your biggest struggle because it's hard to maneuver, try this trick- simply tie the piece of floss you are using into a loop. No more wrapping the ends of the floss around your fingers (cutting off your circulation in the process). Instead, you can hold on to the loop and floss each tooth more easily. The best part, flossing actually cleans more than 2/3 of the surface of your tooth, and it tackles the parts that your toothbrush just can't reach.

Your bones could start disappearing

While cavities are still a concern, the older you get, the more you have to worry about periodontal or gum disease. And it's more serious than just gingivitis; you can actually start to lose bone and have receding gums. Many women between the ages of 30 and 50 can experience hormonal fluctuations that can make them more susceptible to gum disease, which makes regular visits to your dentist even more important.

Skipping the dentist costs more in the long run

Dental care is frequently neglected because it often falls under a different insurance carrier than medical care. But if you are waiting to visit your dentist until you have insurance, you very well could end up spending more money in the long run than if you had just continued with regular visits.

Mouth bacteria can sicken your entire body

Taking care of your teeth and gums can make a big difference in your overall health. One of the most surprising discoveries is that the bacteria that cause chronic gum disease have been found in other parts of the body such as in the amnionic fluid. Research has linked gum disease to poor pregnancy outcomes like pre-term and low birth weight babies. Gum disease, while not a cause, has also been associated with cardiovascular issues, and has been found to have a big impact on diabetes.

http://www.articlesbase.com/dental-care-articles/theres-more-to-dental-health-than-brushing-7041157.html