What Are the Biggest Risks to Your Oral Health?

It's sometimes difficult to state just how important your oral health is to your overall wellbeing. When you let yours slip, you could be increasing your risk of serious infections, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic diseases. If you want to take good care of your mouth, you need to learn about the things that pose a risk to it.

Sugary Food and Drink

Your mouth is full of bacteria, and some of them play an important role in keeping you healthy. Unfortunately, bad bacteria can exist in there, too, and when you consume too much sugar, you're giving them the fuel they need to survive.

Consuming too many sugary foods and drinks can worsen gum disease and increase your chances of needing a filling. So next time you want a tasty treat, consider if there's a healthier alternative you can try.

Heavy Alcohol Consumption

Many people enjoy an alcoholic beverage from time to time. But when you're consuming a lot of it, you could be increasing your risk of developing oral cancer.

Alcohol irritates the soft tissues in your mouth and causes cell damage. Over time, repeated moderate to heavy consumption could increase your risk of oral, laryngeal, and oesophageal cancer. You may not need to stop drinking entirely, but you should moderate your use.

Tobacco Use

Much like alcohol, smoking will increase your risk of oral cancer. Additionally, it reduces the amount of saliva that's available in your mouth. When there's a reduction in saliva production, you're more likely to experience gum disease.

From a cosmetic perspective, smoking can stain your teeth, too. So if you want to give your oral health a boost while helping your teeth look aesthetically pleasing, try quitting.

Poor Oral Hygiene

A lot of people have a solid knowledge of what good oral hygiene entails. But when you're leading a hectic lifestyle, you may let things slip from time to time.

If you're routinely forgetting to brush your teeth and see your dentist at six-month intervals, you're not protecting your mouth. If your current oral hygiene routine isn't working for you, find ways to make it more convenient. For example, you could find a dentist who works during hours that are more suitable for you. Additionally, you could carry toothpaste and a toothbrush with you just in case you need to brush on the go.

If you're aware that you're not doing as much for your oral health as you would like, it's time to make some changes. Every small effort could have a big impact on your future.

To learn more, contact a dentist.


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