How Your Lifestyle Choices Can Positively Or Negatively Impact Your Oral Health
Whenever dentists are speaking to their patients about oral health and some of the issues an individual patient might be having concerning the health of their gums and teeth, one of the contributory factors for those issues is the lifestyle that person is following. The choices you make within your daily life can certainly have both a positive and a negative impact on your oral health.
By negative lifestyle, we are not talking about extremes like drug-fuelled parties or falling out of nightclubs drunk at 3 am, although neither of these lifestyle choices is in any way recommended. Rather we are referring to some of the more mundane lifestyle choices that a person makes in their daily lives, which of themselves may not seem to be problematic at that moment, but which over time can do harm to an individual’s oral health.
Before we outline some of these negative lifestyles choices that harm oral health, it will be useful if we point out what the effect of positive choices are. You will doubtless be aware of what a great oral health routine requires such as regular brushing, flossing, avoiding sugary foods and drinks, and regular check-ups at your dentists. But what do these achieve for you? Well, Dentist Joondalup have some answers which we are sure you will agree are positive and highly desirable.
- No oral infections
- No oral sores
- No pain in your mouth, jaw, or face
- No tooth decay
- No cavities
- No periodontal disease
- Zero signs of throat cancer or oral cancer
- Fewer visits to the dentist for remedial treatments
- Biting, chewing, speaking, and smiling are all comfortable
- You feel great!
We hope you agree that this is an impressive list of reasons to lead a positive lifestyle as it relates to your oral health. As for the negative lifestyle choices that can harm your oral health, here some are of the main ones you should avoid whenever and wherever possible.
Not Eating A Healthy Diet
It is no coincidence that someone who eats unhealthy foods as part of an unhealthy lifestyle is more likely to suffer ailments, illnesses, and diseases than those that eat healthily. The level to which you care for your body as evidenced by the lifestyle choices you make such as your diet, what exercise you take, what unhealthy substances you consume (alcohol, tobacco drugs etc) will negatively impact your overall health, and in turn, oral health.
Consuming Food And Drink Known To Cause Dental Issues
Apart from an overall unhealthy diet we also know of certain foods and drinks that are especially harmful to your oral health. Prime amongst them are foods and drinks with high levels of sugar such as fizzy drinks, ice cream, sweets, cakes, and desserts. We are not saying you should never have them, but instead do so only occasionally as treat and brush your teeth afterwards.
Neglecting Oral Hygiene
Whilst your dentist can fix many dental issues, it is up to you to care for your teeth and gums, and the crucial element of that is your daily oral hygiene routine. Brushing after meals and before bed, and also flossing, should be the absolute minimum. It only takes a few minutes each day for you to follow proper oral hygiene to care for your teeth and gums, versus a lifetime of oral health problems such as painful toothache, gum disease and lost teeth if you do not.