Taking better care of your teeth should still be at the top of your New Year’s resolutions.
Why?
Because you’ve only got one set of teeth, and you probably use them more frequently than you think. Plus, better dental health means better health overall.
Caring for your teeth means caring for your whole self. Dental pain can affect your mood and stop you from making healthy choices. And oral infections can spread through your digestive tract or bloodstream to infect other parts of your body. Taking good care of your teeth is very important, for all of these reasons and more.
The Different Ways We Use Our Teeth
Teeth are not just for biting and chewing—they also help us do things like form sounds and make facial expressions. Our teeth perform three very important functions: eating, speaking, and emoting. These functions have a direct impact on your physical health as well as your mental health and self-esteem.
Eating
Incisors for biting, and molars for grinding—each of your teeth has a different way of helping you break your food down into easily digestible pieces. Chewing also helps stimulate saliva production, which makes it easier to swallow. When we have dental pain it can change the way we interact with our foods. Often pain has us reaching away from the healthy crunchy veggies, or stopping us from eating all together.
Speaking
In English, we rely on the placement of our lips or tongue against our teeth to make a variety of sounds.
Try it out! Say the sounds for “Th,” “V,” or “F.” Do you notice how your tongue or lips need to rest on your teeth to help push the air in the right way?
This is why speech can be less clear with missing teeth or an abnormal bite. It is also why it is normal for those with new dentures or implants to have to practice speaking until they get used to them. If you have crooked or missing teeth, dental restorations or orthodontics can help you improve your speech patterns.
Facial Expressions
Did you know that your teeth are the underlying support for your lips, facial muscles, and skin?
Without teeth, our faces sag and change their shape. This is why people who are missing several teeth can look like they are frowning. Dental implants or dentures can help restore the appearance of a person’s face when they are missing teeth. Missing teeth and deteriorating bone structure can be caused by gum diease. Something that can be driven away by good oral hygene.
Dental Care That Won’t Let You Down
Because your teeth are so important, good oral health should be a priority. Setting aside time twice a year for a dental checkup and cleaning is vital. Your dentist can uncover problems and restore cavities before they get worse, and a professional cleaning removes plaque and tartar so you can maintain better dental hygiene at home.
Here at Country Club Dental, we understand the importance of choosing the right oral health provider. Our experienced dentist, Dr. Paul Whitney, and our amazing team of dental hygienists, dental assistants, and support staff, are all here to help you achieve better dental health. Contact us today to make an appointment in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (2/21/24). Photo by Caroline LM on Unsplash.
