Learning to Manage Your Dental Problems

3 Reasons Caring For Your Teeth Should Be A Priority In Your Life Even When You're Young

19 June 2018 by Charlotte Beck

Whether you're navigating the complicated waters of adolescence and college or trying to survive on your own after moving out, dental health may seem pretty far down on the list of urgent problems. After all, tests and utility bills have specified deadline dates that increase the urgency you feel about them, whereas your teeth may survive months or years of neglect before causing problems you can't ignore.

But, obviously, just because you could ignore your teeth for months at a time doesn't mean you should. Here are three reasons why caring for your dental health should be a priority even when you're young.

1. Your teeth could be getting more wear and tear than you think

Stress can take a toll on your teeth in a number of ways. For example, it can cause tooth grinding that occurs at night while you sleep. This can lead to worn-down enamel that's more susceptible to decay, cracking, and chipping. This can cause a lot of painful issues if not treated and cared for. Stress can also cause acid reflux, which can erode your molars and leave them full of cavities.

2. Neglect can lead to losing teeth at any age

Cavities, fillings, crowns, and root canals are just part of what can result from tooth neglect. If you don't clean your teeth well and regularly and keep your appointments for dental checkups, you'll be more likely to develop gingivitis. If not treated, gingivitis can then develop into a severe form of gum disease called periodontitis, which can occur even in your twenties or thirties if you're not careful. You don't just get gum recession (which is considered to be irreversible) with periodontitis; you can also experience bone loss at this stage, which means your teeth won't be held in place and could start falling out while you're still young.

3. Your dental health is a critical part of overall health

Dental health and whole-body health are related in a number of ways. Not only can conditions such as diabetes make you more susceptible to oral health problems (such as gingivitis), but oral health conditions can affect your overall health as well. Periodontitis, for example, has a well-known ability to raise your chances of developing heart problems.

These are just three of the reasons why you should stop thinking of your dental care as less important than cramming for a test or paying your bills. Like your test scores, your dental health situation can have a big effect on your future. For more information, contact a dental office like Rupp and Grabowski Family Dentistry.

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