Ways to Maintain Your Oral Health

April 14, 2020

Category: Uncategorized

Tags: oral health

Your oral health depends on how you care for it. Your dentist, Dr. Joseph Hendrick, Jr., helps his patients with their at-home routines and provides the preventive care you need in his Shelby, NC, office.

Why oral health is important

Your smile tells the world all about you. In fact, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) says that your smile gets noticed before any other physical feature. So, you want it to look nice, function well and keep you in good overall health.

And, yes, what happens in your mouth definitely impacts your systemic health. Medical News Today reports that gum disease appears linked to chronic health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, dementia and more. Accordingly, a healthy smile equates to a healthy you.

Maintaining your oral health

It starts at home with your daily brushing and flossing routines. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends twice daily brushing and daily flossing to remove food residues. Plaque and tartar contain harmful bacteria which cause decay and periodontal disease.

Additionally, everyone should consume a low-carbohydrate diet, increase fiber and low-fat protein and drink plenty of water. Water rinses tooth surfaces clean, and it increases saliva, Nature's own anti-microbial and tooth-whitener.

Your teeth may require the protection of a mouth guard, too. Sports enthusiasts, people who snore or those who clench their teeth should ask their dentist in Shelby about wearing a customized acrylic device for superior comfort and protection.

Finally, if you smoke, see your doctor about quitting. Tobacco causes oral cancer, bad breath, periodontal disease and more. A smoke-free lifestyle will improve your oral health dramatically.

In-office care

At Dr. Hendrick's office, the team provides hygienic cleanings, digital X-rays and preventive check-ups. Every six months is best so you keep ahead of plaque and tartar. Dr. Hendrick looks for a wide range or oral health problems with every exam, checks dental bite and your existing restorations and performs something very important--a careful oral cancer screening.

Additionally, he formulates a care plan for each patient to include preventive recommendations, such as sealants and fluoride treatments for kids, restorative care as needed and cosmetic services. Cosmetic dentistry provides an excellent compliment to healthy teeth and gums.

Contact us

Dr. Joseph Hendrick, Jr. and his team serve patients in the Shelby, NC, area. They delight in seeing their patients smile, and each staff member is happy to help you with any questions you may have about good preventive routines.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we have followed national guidelines to close our practice to everything but dental emergencies. Call us at (704) 484-0077 about any pressing concerns you may have.

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