It seems that when we as a society talk about oral hygiene, we almost exclusively focus on the cosmetic side.
Adverts for toothpaste and mouthwash focus on the appeal of bright, shiny, straight white teeth. They emphasize the need for breath to smell good, lest you be dismissed as a pariah by your friends every time you speak. The adverts feature attractive people with beaming smiles, with a subtext of how nice teeth makes you a more attractive person all round.
It’s a valid point; no one likes to see yellowed, unclean and crooked teeth. Most of us spend a lot of time into caring for our oral hygiene to prevent ever getting to that stage.
However, when the focus becomes all about appearances, we often forget the underlying issues. It’s nice to have good teeth, but it’s even more important to have good health. These things, surprisingly, are not exclusive from one another.
It may sound extreme to say that poor oral care can kill you but, surprise, it completely can! That’s like finding out that the teddy bear you have loved since school is made of asbestos, isn’t it? We’ve all focused on the wrong thing for too long. Good teeth and mouth care is the essential bit – the nicer appearance is a sidenote.
The killer aspect of this is nothing to do with people departing the earth due to the poor state of your teeth. It’s all about bacteria. Your mouth is a portal to the outside world and, to put it frankly, it’s a breeding ground. Your mouth, right now, full of gross bugs of all descriptions. You’re essentially a bug hotel. You’re welcome for that image.
Most of those bugs are fine, and you live in harmony with them. Some are even beneficial. Others are less friendly. If you don’t remove them with a good oral care routine, they can make their way into your system via the soft mouth membranes. From there, it is a well-accepted medical fact that they can decide to set up home in your heart. You know, the thing you rely on to keep you alive. This is a condition called endocarditis, and if left untreated, it’s going to kill you.
That’s not the end of the story. There is a host of oral-related illnesses that can make life miserable. Gingivitis and abscesses are common concerns, and both of which can lead to health problems beyond the mouth. You could also end up losing your teeth.
Now, with the scary bit out of the way: don’t panic! The good news is this is all 100% preventable. Make sure you brush your teeth after every meal. Mouthwash is optional; flossing is not. You can use conventional string floss, but Dr. Lamblord Sheth has a good point about the benefits of water irrigation. Cleaning between teeth is not something to avoid; try and do it at least once every day.
The final step is the obvious one: regular check-ups. If your dentist doesn’t smile with recognition when they see you, you should do something about that. The pros know best, after all.
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This picture is a few weeks old from when I was 8 weeks post op.
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Here are some foods that I’ve been having lately. I met with a nutritionist and she said to stick with proteins for now. When I lose another 10 pounds she said I can add one starch and one fruit per day on the days I exercise. I am still trying to drink at least 64 oz of liquids per day (mostly water). I stay away from caffeine since it is a diuretic. The doctor said for every cup of caffeine I have I need to drink 2 cups to counteract the effects. It’s hard enough to get 64 ounces in to begin with so I just avoid caffeine. I only have protein drinks on days when I am really low on protein for the day so only a day or two a week.
My favorite “fast food” is Chick-fil-a grilled chicken nuggets. They are the perfect size for me. I usually get the 8 piece and have left overs. YUM!
I recently found these Protein Chips at Walmart. They are high protein chips that are low in carbs and give me a much needed crunch. They do have an aftertaste and aren’t yummy like regular chips but they do help with cravings so I keep them on hand for those times when I really want chips.
Easy on the go protein lunch or snack. I also always have low sodium Boar’s Head deli in the house to my my own deli rollups but these are easy to take and go. Just watch the sodium. It adds up.
My favorite snack- sugar free jello. I like these brands because they are more “solid” than the Jello brand and I like my jello to be more like jigglers than too soft. Bonus, I count the jello as part of my water count for the day since it’s made with water. 😉
I saved my favorite for last. These Tyson Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Strips are the bomb! They are low in carbs (7 carbs in a 3 oz serving) so I can have them for lunch or dinner and get 16 grams of protein. They taste homemade. My husband thought I had breaded my own chicken the first time I made them. They are great to dip in 
My husband came up with something pretty genius and I thought I’d share with my readers who likely have the same problem. Our children have a bad habit of stuffing the garbage can in the kitchen so the bag falls down into the can. Ewwwwww! Hubby came up with the idea to put 2 
Disclaimer: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.
I am so excited to share this with my readers. Who doesn’t love TROLLS?
