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.
