Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Why Your Oral Health Matters


Smile! Say, "Go Hawks!"

We all have those beautiful pearly whites called teeth. We have 32 by the time we reach adulthood, which means that we have 32 reasons why we should take extra special care of them. It is a good idea to develop healthy oral habits now, as the decisions we make now will and can affect us later.
 
It begins in the morning at the beginning of each day when we awake from our slumber - brushing our teeth that is. We should brush our teeth at least two to three times per day (morning, afternoon, and evening), or after every meal for a minimum of two minutes. To ensure that you are brushing correctly, your toothbrush should be held at a 45-degree angle while moving your hand in a small circular motion.
 
In addition to brushing, flossing your teeth is as equally important, flossing helps to remove food particles that may be invisible to the eye. Leftover food particles can cause an unpleasant odor, cavities, gum disease, which can contribute to heart disease, as well as more serious diseases.
 
To help you, your family, friends, and coworkers stay on track; check out my list of healthy oral tips.

1. Brush, Brush, Brush
It is imperative that we brush our teeth two to three times daily or after every meal, by doing so we minimize our chances of bad breath, teeth discoloration, cavities, gum disease and other serious issues. As mentioned previously, you should hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle (see diagram A) where your toothbrush is slightly pressing against the gum line. This allows you the opportunity to brush your gums as well. One more thing, your tongue must not be neglected, your toothbrush is a great tool to ensure that food particles are removed. If you would like to take it up a notch, you can purchase a tongue scraper at your local drugstore.

Diagram A


2. Selecting a toothbrush
When selecting a toothbrush, soft bristles are the way to go, or medium if necessary.  Hard bristles can do more harm than good as they can cause damage to your gums.  Select a size that fits into your mouth comfortably, and one that allows the toothbrush head to cover at least two teeth at once.  Be sure to replace your toothbrush, or toothbrush head for electric/battery operated toothbrushes, every three months.


3. Dentist visits

When was your last visit to the dentist?  Insurance can be very costly, so why not take advantage of your benefits?  Semi-annual cleanings are all the rage these days, and most insurance plans cover two*. By checking in with your dentist, you can stay abreast of your oral health and can catch gum disease or cavities early, and manage the integrity of your teeth.

*Note: IIT's plans through Delta Dental cover two cleanings per year for most individuals.  However, members with certain health conditions may be eligible for four cleanings per year. For additional information, please visit the HR Portal Dental Benefits page. You will be required to log in to MyIIT to view this page.
 
I hope these tips have been helpful. Until next time, let's brush to the left, right, up, down, and swish all around, rinse, and repeat! 

Latasha Cattouse~
 


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