Has someone said to you something like “Smile while you still have teeth”? While it may sound like they are trying to cheer you up, however, it can be a warning of impending doom if you don’t care enough for your dental health.

Yes, losing your teeth is something that is not only dreadful but also depressing at the same time. It’s because it’s not only about how it can impact your overall look but more about how it can dictate how you live your life from within. So, take good care of your teeth while you can.

The Importance of Maintaining Oral Health

While it’s common knowledge that dental healthcare is essential, some people might not realize that it’s not just about the choice between having real teeth and fake ones. There are far more compelling issues than meets the eye.

Consider these three reasons that should convince you to maintain your oral health:

Appearance

Having missing, crooked, or diseased teeth aren’t much of a sight to behold. And that awful smell that accompanies it every time the mouth opens can be enough to turn you off.

Inasmuch as you are trying to keep your beauty regimen religiously, so should you do the same with your dental health. There’s a reason they are called permanent teeth, so don’t expect there’s more coming. Your next ones would be made of either plastic or porcelain, which won’t be as durable.

There are, however, some technological breakthroughs that have helped both dentists and patients in oral health maintenance, especially when it comes to the appearance of one’s teeth. For instance, with digital impressions, dentists have been using computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing (CAM) for quite some time already, and check out this dentist in lancaster. However, expect more continuing progress in these technologies. In the meantime, make dental healthcare your priority so that you can always keep your pearly whites healthy and flash a wonderful smile.

Health Implications

You may not be aware but what may seem like a simple disregard for dental hygiene can lead to a plethora of dental issues. It can even lead to other health complications, at worst.

Not brushing and flossing regularly can lead to tooth decay and gum infections. These infections often lead to tooth loss if not treated right away.

Additionally, tooth and gum infections are often the silent causes of heart issues, as well as complications like diabetes, respiratory problems, and stroke. In fact, a study shows that improved oral hygiene lowers the risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure.

Another dental issue is malocclusion, which can sometimes be caused by crooked teeth and tooth loss. Untreated malocclusions can cause Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ), which can cause a myriad of symptoms that include headaches, earaches, dizziness, facial tension and pain, and shoulder and back pain.

Oral health issues are better caught in their early stages than having to treat them later on and cost a fortune. If you’re hearing the idiom “prevention is better than cure” on top of your head right now, it can’t be any more appropriate.

Robotics and artificial intelligence have been a tremendous addition to dental services, which can take a load off dentists, as well as offer minimally-invasive procedures. These include teeth cleaning, fillings, and tooth extractions, among others—all of which can contribute to preventing more serious health problems from developing in the long run.

Quality of Life

Missing teeth and tooth decay can interfere with your speech. Add crooked teeth, and you may just want to be cooped up inside your home because they took your self-confidence away.

What’s worse is that they may interfere with your eating activities. You can’t chew properly, and you can’t eat any food you like because you either can’t chew properly or you fear that food will get stuck in the cavity and cause toothaches.

Of course, that can particularly be a hassle during family reunions or trips. Your dental issues can significantly affect the way you enjoy your life—more than you can ever imagine.

Based on a study on adolescents, dental disorders can significantly impact their aesthetics and psychosocial behavior, which affects their self-esteem.

With the advent of innovations in the field of dentistry, there’s really no excuse for procrastinating about your oral health. When it comes to the cost of the services, most are covered with health insurance, and some facilities may offer flexible payment plans for patients with no dental coverage.

Nowadays, there are also safer dental products available, and you can rest easy knowing that the latest products use natural materials without unnecessary chemicals. These include charcoal toothpaste and toothbrush made from bamboo. Moreover, laser dentistry has slowly become a popular choice for teeth whitening, tooth decay and bacteria removal, and the reshaping of gums, among others.

Parting Words

It’s human nature to develop a lack of self-esteem when dealing with your imperfections. You feel you’re not pretty enough, not tall enough, or not slim enough for other people’s liking.

But it’s on another level when your flaws are brought about by your own doing—except if your tooth was accidentally knocked loose. Knowing at the back of your head that it’s your fault why you look unappealing makes the self-doubt even worse.

Dental health is a very serious matter that should not be taken for granted. If you do, you will end up wishing for your two front teeth (or any of your teeth for that matter) for Christmas.