Dentists and good dental health practices have a unique opportunity to assist in the struggle against heart attack, one of the principal causes of death in the United States, says a recent study published in The Journal of the American Dental Association.
The JADA report says health care usage patterns show that individuals take better care of their dental health, and are likely to see their dentists more frequently than their physicians.
The path to a dazzling smile starts long before the first tooth breaks through the gum. It’s important to take care of the teeth and mouth starting in childhood. Steps to a good oral health include:
- Frequent care by a dental professional.
- Brush your teeth every day with fluoride toothpaste. It takes two to three minutes to adequately brush your teeth, but most people spend less than 30 seconds brushing.
- Regular flossing to get at the bacteria that hide between teeth, effectively dodging your toothbrush.
- Eating right and snacking smart – avoid sugary snacks. Bacteria feed on the sugar of candy, creating cavity-causing acid.
- Get adequate calcium.
- Don’t smoke or chew tobacco. Coffee is also a dangerous threat to your smile.
Brushing baby teeth can be rather a challenge for new parents. You can try out different rewards for good behavior during brushing. Using this “rewards technique”, you can follow the first successful attempt at tooth brushing by letting your baby play with a favorite toy or play a game with mommy and daddy.
A Guide To Dental Health Plans
If you’re looking for ways to save money on your dental visits, you should look into getting a discount dental plan. Some of the benefits of a dental plan include:
- Savings of 10-60% on most dental procedures.
- Choose from thousands of participating dentists in large regional and national networks.
- Some plans offer instant online enrollment and swift plan activation, without needless red tape aggravation.
- You can search and compare plans online, and get assistance from virtual customer service representatives.
- Most plans offer discounts on dental specialties.
Dental anxiety or fear of the dentist is a major stumbling block to good oral health for many people. Prevention – stopping problems before they happen – is the key to good oral hygiene.
The majority of people with dental phobia have had very off-putting experiences with greedy, indifferent or incompetent dentists. It follows that the most important step to overcoming your dental anxiety will be to find a good dentist.