The Real Reason You Shouldn’t Wait to Care for Your Smile

Did you know that about 30% of American adults surveyed said they never floss? Furthermore, only 31% said they go to the dentist twice a year, which is what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends to maintain good oral health. Are you one of them? It can be challenging to gather the motivation to do simple things every day and take time out of your schedule, but these are important!

Oftentimes, patients take the “wait and see approach,” hoping that any dental problems they do experience will dissipate on their own with enough time. Sadly, that’s not how these issues work. With this in mind, keep reading to learn the real reason why you shouldn’t wait to care for your smile.

Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Care for Your Smile

Be honest… have you fallen into the habit of skipping your biannual checkups, flossing inconsistently, and engaging in other poor dental habits? Don’t worry – there’s no time like the present to turn over a new leaf. Prioritizing your oral health is extremely important because it directly impacts your overall wellbeing.

To begin, untreated infections in your mouth can easily spread to your vital organs via your bloodstream. That’s why patients with gum disease are at an increased risk of developing heart disease and other serious cardiovascular conditions. The good news is that many dental problems are largely preventable with the right best practices in place, like visiting your dentist biannually for a checkup and cleaning.

It's also worth mentioning the link between your smile and your self-esteem. While healthy, beautiful teeth make smiling confidently significantly easier, decayed, brittle, and stained teeth can make smiling for photos, meeting new people, and feeling confident for job interviews difficult.

As you can see, not caring for your smile can negatively impact virtually every aspect of your life. So, don’t put off caring for your smile!

But What If You’re Scared of the Dentist?

Dental-related anxiety is more common than you may think. In fact, a whopping 17% of Gen Z-ers have skipped the dentist due to fear. If you’re in the same boat, you’ll be happy to hear that there’s a solution: sedation dentistry. Fast-acting nitrous oxide is strong enough to keep your anxiety at bay while light enough that you won’t feel drained and groggy following your appointment. If fear has kept you from visiting your dentist, then don’t hesitate to ask your dental team if sedation dentistry is right for you.

8 Healthy Dental Habits to Implement Today

In short, there’s no time like the present to implement a solid oral hygiene regimen! If you want to re-commit to caring for your smile, then here’s a good place to start:

• Get a dental checkup and cleaning every six months
• Brush your teeth for two full minutes each morning and evening
• Floss and rinse with mouthwash daily
• Keep your consumption of sugary foods and beverages to a minimum
• Quit unhealthy habits, like smoking, nail-biting, and chewing on ice
• Schedule an appointment with your dental team if something is wrong, like tooth pain
• Stick to mostly well-balanced, nutrient-dense meals
• Wear a mouthguard if you play sports or grind your teeth at night

When it comes to something as important as your smile, it’s crucial that you focus on preventive care. Otherwise, you’ll be left with decayed, brittle, and otherwise imperfect teeth that make smiling and chewing difficult. If it’s been more than six months since your last dental visit, then scheduling an appointment is priority number one! Don’t worry – your dentist isn’t interested in passing judgment. They simply want to learn more about your dental needs and help get your healthy smile back on track.