Ontario Dental Association: a healthy lifestyle contributes to good oral health

Oral health is one factor that contributes to a healthy lifestyle. 

Here are some tips to help you look after your oral health.

– schedule regular visits to your dentist;

– brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day;

– eat a well-balanced diet;

– check your mouth regularly to become familiar with what is normal for you;

-try to reduce the impact stress has on your oral and overall health;

– alert your dentist to any herbal remedies, over-the-counter or prescription drugs you are taking;

– wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth when you are playing sports.

Between dental visits check your mouth for warning signs of gum disease and oral cancer.

Warning signs of gum disease may include:

– puffy, red, sore, shiny or sensitive gums;

– bleeding when you brush or floss; or

– bad breath that won’t go away.

Warning signs of oral cancer may include:

– Numbness and tingling

– open sores that don’t go away within a week to 10 days;

– unexplained bleeding lumps or thickening on the bottom or sides of your tongue, cheeks, or roof of your mouth.

If you notice any of these signs, or have any concerns, call your dentist immediately.

Stress

People may overlook the effect stress has on our oral health. However, mouths can be just as affected by stress as the rest of an individual’s body is.

Stress can make people neglect their oral-health routines.  

People under stress sometimes make poor lifestyle choices – smoking, consuming too much alcohol and eating more sugary foods – which can lead to serious issues including oral cancer, gum disease or tooth decay.

Stress is a contributing factor to other serious oral-health conditions, including: bruxism, or teeth grinding. 

People under stress may clench or grind their teeth, especially during sleep. 

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) affects the jaws joints and groups of muscles that let us chew, swallow, speak and yawn. Symptoms include tender or sore jaw muscles, headaches and problems opening or closing your mouth. 

Bruxism is a major cause of TMD – clenching your jaw muscles can cause them to ache.

Immune system affected

Periodontal (gum) disease. 

Research has shown that stress affects our immune systems, increasing our susceptibility to infections, including the bacteria that cause gum disease.

It may be impossible to eliminate all stress from your life, but you can take simple steps to reduce its impact on your health.

For more information visit www.youroralhealth.ca.

Ontario Dental Association

Comments