Healthy teeth, healthy gums, healthy you! But how?

Healthy teeth, healthy gums, healthy you! But how?

21 Sep 2024

Teeth and gums literally go hand in hand! Healthy teeth and gums make a healthy mouth and, ultimately, a healthy you. Teeth and gums have three main jobs: eating, talking and smiling. Just imagine how difficult it would be to carry out these jobs without teeth. Diseased teeth and gums lead to tooth loss, and we can probably function with a couple of teeth missing, but not when a whole series of teeth are lost. It is not cool at all to sleep with dentures in a glass of water at your bedside.

Gone are the days when people used to accept dentures as a replacement for missing teeth. The good news is that with an early adopted personalised prevention plan, tooth loss can be easily avoided. Although missing teeth can be replaced with dental implants, dental bridges, and metal or plastic (acrylic) dentures, trust me, there is nothing like your own teeth. Without teeth, one is unable to chew or enjoy food thoroughly. If teeth are missing at the front of the mouth, pronouncing different letters is difficult and can have a knock-on effect if you play different musical instruments, such as a saxophone. Imagine smiling with teeth missing at the front of the mouth. Wouldn’t you agree a toothless smile only looks cute on a baby?

The mouth not only functions at a local level (eating, smiling and talking) but also plays a very important part in maintaining the general health of the body. The mouth is the gateway to the inner organs and structures. If this gateway, especially the structures supporting it, i.e., gums, are diseased, how can the rest of the body stay healthy? There is an established correlation between gum disease (periodontitis) and other systemic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, premature birth and even Alzheimers. If gums and teeth are infected, whatever we chew will take some toxins with it; how can that be good for you? Just imagine the bad breath an infected and diseased mouth will cause. All of this can have a knock-on effect on one’s confidence levels.

The above-mentioned factors are the reasons why one should look after one’s teeth and gums to an absolute level. This would not only minimise your visits to your dentist but would also help you avoid costly dental bills. With just a few tweaks in your daily routine, you and your family can keep your teeth for life! More prevention and less active treatment are good for you and good for the dentist’s back… A win-win situation for both!

Here are my 7 key “tips for teeth for life”:

1. Brush your teeth twice a day.
2. Clean in between your teeth.
3. Cut down on sugary and acidic foods.
4. Brush baby teeth as soon as they come through.
5. Straighten crooked teeth with braces and Invisalign®.
6. Avoid smoking and alcohol, especially both together.
7. Have regular dental checkups and don’t delay dental treatments.

In the coming weekly blogs, I will be sharing each tip to keep your teeth for life in more detail, so stay tuned for that. I understand you guys have a busy life, and it might feel like one extra chore to do, but I’m 100% sure once you understand the why and the how of them, it’ll be easy for you to embed them into your routine effortlessly. If you have any further questions about the above, please contact us and my team, and I will be happy to send further info to you.

Love and care

Your dental health coach

Dr Aisha Ahmed

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