Why is Dental Hygiene Important to Me?

Hello!

Today, I went to the dentist for the first time since my wisdom teeth removal two years ago!

For me, I used to be religious about going to the dentist every six months for a cleaning, Because of various insurance problems (MNCare, I'm looking at you) this became hard to do in high school. 

It has become my lifelong mission to instill the importance of daily dental hygiene for everyone near and far.

It is something that collectively takes less than 5 minutes every day. 

Nora doesn't joke about teeth.

If I didn't get queasy with decay in other peoples' mouths, I would have been the queen of dentistry. 

So why is oral hygiene so important?

1. If you don't keep up with your teeth, they can decay.

   1a. Decay can cause pain that just doesn't leave.

   1b. Decay can make it hard to eat your favorite things.

   1c. Decay is ever lasting and very visual. Unlike with your skin, you can't cover up your teeth with makeup.

2. Plaque just feels gross.

3. When you don't brush regularly, you're more vulnerable for staining/yellowing which is really hard to get rid of.

    3a. If you realize "shit, my teeth are yellow, I'm going to use a quick whitener," you'll probably hurt your teeth more by making them sensitive with chemicals. 

4. Sensitivity is a real pain and can worsen when your mouth is filled with fillings. 

5. Your gums are the homes of your teeth and if you're not brushing (or brushing too hard!!) your gums can erode and cause decay, pain, and disease.

6. HAVE YOU SEEN ALL THE PICTURES ABOUT GUM DISEASE AND TOOTH DECAY?

   6a. DO YOU WANT YOUR TEETH TO LOOK LIKE THAT?

7. How many things can cause tooth decay? Answer: PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING YOU KNOW AND LOVE (example: sugars from pretty much anything, acids from beverages like soda, fruit juice, and coffee, THE LIST GOES ON)

Now a big thing that I've heard before is "Well my teeth are crooked so it doesn't matter." or "I can't afford to go to the dentist or get braces."

THERE IS SO MUCH YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR TEETH THRIVE IF YOU CANNOT GO TO THE DENTIST FOR CLEANINGS!!!

Stemming off of that, I have a confession:

My teeth are healthy, but they are MESSED UP

A big part of this is due to thumb-sucking as a small child that reshaped my hard palette (the roof of your mouth) and caused a gaping hole called an "open-bite." To fix this issue, I would have to go through surgical reshaping and heavy-duty braces for at least 2 years. In middle school and high school, this gap really bothered me and discouraged me from showing my smile. Financially, I haven't been able to undergo these processes to correct my open bite and other minor issues. At this point, I wouldn't want to follow through with these massive changes. Despite not changing these cosmetic issues, there is an important topic to cover:

They are healthy teeth.

They are not painful teeth.  

Even if they don't look perfect, your teeth are extremely important to your health and self-esteem. Keeping up with at least brushing (Flossing and mouth wash are a plus!) goes such a long way in oral hygiene. 

Tip: Even if you don't go to the dentist for regular cleanings, if you suspect something wrong with your teeth, SEE YOUR DENTIST RIGHT AWAY! (A small problem can become a big, expensive problem if not addressed!!!) 

Tip: Even if you're tired, BRUSH YOUR TEETH AT NIGHT BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP!! You don't want those sugars/acids/plaque stewing in your mouth all night long! You're just setting yourself up for cavities and tooth decay!

Tip: Even if you're running late in the morning, BRUSH YOUR TEETH OR AT LEAST USE MOUTH WASH! You would be surprised at how bad breath can have an effect on your attitude and those who can smell it! 

Tip: When brushing your teeth, remember that your teeth are three dimensional; they have fronts, backs, sides, and bottoms/tops! If you're only brushing your visible teeth, you are missing the non-visible parts which can decay and cause pain and eventually affect the visible sides! 

Tip: Stay hydrated and try to avoid dry mouth. The dry barren wasteland that can be your mouth can become a haven for bacteria!

Please take care of yourself including your oral hygiene!