The first step towards good dental health is brushing and
flossing, which costs all of $3.00 to $5.00 every 3 to 5 months. After that it is about education and
knowledge.
It’s pretty obvious that the last few years of this economic
crisis may have caused people to make some tough choices with scarce
funds. And skipping dental visits may
have risen to the top of the list of least likely things to do with your
money. But skipping dental visits may be
more costly in the long run, and not just to your oral health, but to your
overall health. Difficult economic times
often find people delaying or avoiding trips to the dentist is something we are
seeing more and more these days.
Downsized employees not only have lost medical benefits, but
dental coverage as well. And without
regular visits people may not be aware of the many subtle changes that may be
occurring inside their mouth because they don’t feel them or recognize
them. And without seeing these changes
patients feel they can delay or skip dental visits, not realizing that it takes
a trained dental professional to
see small changes that if left untreated may develop into major costly dental
or even medical issues.
One of the key roles of a dental hygienist is to educate
patients about the etiology of dental diseases and what individuals can do to
prevent oral health issues. These issues if left unchecked or untreated could
affect a person’s ability to eat properly, compromising one’s ability to
maintain proper nutrition, which in turn may negatively impact one’s general
health. If left untreated bleeding of
the gums or inflammation, which is a slow, relatively painless process, if left
untreated, can result in bone degradation and eventual tooth loss. It may also be a sign of other global health
issues such as diabetes, heart related issues or even contribute to infertility
or some form of birth complication in pregnant women.
Given these possibilities the dental office is the starting point
for dental education. Education about
oral health allows you to take ownership of your success in taking care of your
body. Ask questions. Proper flossing and brushing of teeth on a
daily basis, preferably twice daily, is critical to remove bacterial plaque
between the teeth that, if not removed, can destroy the fibers that hold the
teeth in place.
In addition to brushing and flossing, good nutrition is key
to good oral health as well as your global health. It is one integrated process. Certain drinks like red wine, soda, and even healthy
fruit juice, can erode the enamel layer of your teeth. Learn to balance the intake of acidic and
alkaline foods. Ingesting high acidic foods and drinks as well as improper
tooth-brushing technique are the two main reasons for tooth sensitivity. Learn to drink more water as a part of your
diet.
In this day and age, easily accessible internet websites,
such as the American Dental Association offer information on various dental
topics. Read up on subjects that relate
to your situation and discuss these topics with your dental professional. That’s what they are there for.
If lack of dental insurance or sudden loss of income
prevents proper professional dental care, talk to your dentist to see if some
arrangements can be made to accommodate your new found circumstances. There are
numerous low cost or free clinics you can go to as a temporary alternative. Don’t make the mistake that your oral health
can be put off, because your oral health is linked to your global health.
Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC
290 Carpenter Drive, 200A
Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328
404-256-3620
info@rightsmilecenter.com
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(therightsmile.wordpress.com)
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