Is Bad Breath Affecting You?
Neglecting your teeth
Looking after your teeth is not just about having a white, clean smile – although that is important too.
It’s much, much more than that. Good oral hygiene, including brushing twice a day and getting regular checkups, keeps not only your pearly whites and your gums healthy, it’s good for your general well-being as well and will save you money in huge dentist bills in the future.
But why else should we look after our teeth? Let’s focus on six important reasons that might convince you.
1. Avoid bad breath
Just like if we leave the dirty dishes on the sink for too long, the gunk stuck on and in our teeth starts to smell pretty bad if it’s not promptly brushed and flossed off – and even a mint won’t stop your friends from noticing. So boost your kissable-factor and brush twice a day, every day – especially if you’ve got a date.
2. Taking on fluoride
Toothpaste contains fluoride, an active ingredient which strengthens the outer layer of our teeth – the enamel – against plaque and other things in our mouth that attack our smile.
3. Stop gum disease
If we let plaque and bacteria build up on and around our teeth, your gums will start to become inflamed and will hurt and bleed when you do get around to brushing – this is called gingivitis and it’s the first step on the road to serious gum disease.
4. Keep your teeth white
Brushing at least twice a day gives your teeth the best possible chance to stay the natural, pearly white colour they were when they sprouted. Toothpaste contains gentle abrasives that rub off stains caused by plaque and also our habits like coffee drinking and smoking.
5. Stay healthy
That’s right, it’s not just about your teeth. Not removing the bacteria from your teeth and gums can mean it enters your bloodstream, increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke. Gum disease has also been linked with diabetes, dementia, arthritis and premature births.
6. Keep your teeth
When you see people with unseemly gaps in their smile, they may have had a tooth extracted due to tooth decay progressing to the point that it damages the pulp and cannot be saved. If you’re lucky, the tooth might be saved with long and expensive root canal therapy, but a better idea is to avoid infection in the first place by brushing.
