Dental or oral health is concerned with your teeth, gums and mouth. The goal is to prevent complications such as tooth decay (cavities) and gum disease and to maintain the overall health of your mouth.
A healthy mouth, free of infections, injuries and other problems with teeth and gums, is important in maintaining your overall health.
Although a different set of medical professionals focuses on dental health, they are still part of your regular health care team.
Disease and other conditions can affect your dental health and dental problems can affect other parts of your body. Failing to properly care for your oral health may lead to other health problems.
You can help prevent or minimize many oral health problems by regular preventive steps (brushing, flossing and so on) and regular visits to dental health professionals.
Injuries to mouth
Injuries to the mouth and teeth can cause problems, especially for young people playing sports. Make sure young (and not so young) athletes use a properly fitted mouth guard, especially when playing contact sports or engaging is activities where falls and blows to the mouth are possible.
Dental health begins shortly after birth and continues the rest of your life. Constant and consistent oral health habits come from habits and patterns established as children under the direction of a parent.
Good oral health practices and regular visits to dental health professionals will help you enjoy the benefits of a bright smile and a pain-free mouth.
If you begin good oral health practices at an early age and stick with them through adulthood, the odds are good that you will have a healthy mouth, pleasant breath, strong teeth and a bright smile.
Even if you have let dental problems develop over time, it is never too late to see a dental health professional for corrective procedures. Thanks to modern practices, much of the pain some people fear is gone from dental health procedures.