Dr. Isabelle Farmer is a practicing dentist at Houston SmileDocs in Texas. A graduate of Texas A&M University and the University of Texas Dental School, she went on to start her dental practice in 1984. In this article, she gives us three easy changes we can all make to our routine that will impact our oral health.
When it comes to improving your dental health by making changes at home, the tips are basic. Doing simple things can impact on your overall health.
- See your Hygienist. If people would just follow their dentists’ advice as far as how often to see their hygienist, they would already be on the right track in terms of oral health. Studies have shown that just seeing a hygienist on a regular basis—which for most patients will be twice a year, although others will be advised to see their hygienist three or four times a year—can have a major impact on the health of your teeth. Those patients who follow their hygienist’s advice, in terms of brushing and flossing on a daily basis and other things, have been shown to maintain their teeth for longer and with much more quality than the patients who don’t visit their dentist or hygienist on a regular basis. The reason for that is clear: When you come in twice a year, or more frequently, we are able to catch minor problems early on, before they become a big deal. By catching things while they are small, you can avoid a lot of the hassles and procedures that people dread. So making an appointment and visiting your hygienist on a regular basis is one easy step that anyone can make to improve their odds for having healthy teeth for years to come.
- Avoid sugars. When it comes to patients having too much sugar, we generally see that in two areas. Either patients are drinking too much liquid sugar—that would be large sodas and other drinks—on a daily basis, or they have incorporated too many processed foods into their diet. Avoiding liquid sugars is a big one for many teens and adults. We see a lot of patients getting into trouble with cavities, even older patients, just because they drink too much sugar in these large sodas that they are drinking every day.
The other big way people are getting too much sugar in their diet is through processed foods. A lot of times people think they are being healthy, but you really need to have a look at the label of your food to see what is in there. Since people rarely do this, they are often surprised at just how much sugar is actually in the foods they are eating at home when I tell them.
One thing I tell people to watch out for is cereal. I usually tell people that it is far better to buy a cereal that has little sugar and sprinkle it on top to their taste. Because when you sprinkle the sugar on top, you are likely to put a lot less on than the amount that would be in your typical cereal box. So just putting enough in there to bring the cereal up to a palatable taste is one easy way people can reduce their sugar intake each day.
- Quit smoking. Smoking isn’t good for your overall health, and it isn’t good for your oral health, either. Smoking is awful in terms of the health of the gums and the ligaments that hold the teeth in place. So the majority of smokers will have periodontal disease at some point. So just avoiding smoking can, once again, do wonders in terms of your teeth and preventing periodontal disease.
Those three things all have a big impact not just on the oral and dental health of patients, but also in terms of their overall well-being. Nothing is extraordinary about any of these tips, but you would be amazed at how many people don’t follow these simple rules of thumb.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
