Factors to Consider for Better Oral Health
Your dental and oral condition plays a vital role in your overall health and wellbeing. Poor oral hygiene can lead to dental cavities, gum disease, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is a lifelong commitment. If you learn proper oral hygiene habits such as brushing, flossing, and limiting sugar intake—as early as possible, you can prevent expensive dental procedures and long-term health issues
The Connection Between Oral Health and General Health
Like other areas of the body, your mouth has plenty of bacteria in it, which are mostly harmless. However, some bacteria can cause diseases since your mouth is the entry point for digestion and respiration.
Regular brushing and flossing of teeth, along with the body’s natural defenses, keep bacteria under control. Unfortunately, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can grow to levels that could cause infections in the mouth like tooth decay and gum disease.
Also, some medications, such as painkillers, can reduce saliva flow. Besides washing food away from the mouth, saliva neutralizes acids produced by bacteria, which forms a barrier against microbes that multiply and cause disease. Some conditions can be linked to oral health, such as:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Endocarditis
- Pregnancy and birth complications
- Diabetes
- HIV/AIDS
- Pneumonia
- Osteoporosis
- Alzheimer’s disease
Types of Dental and Oral Diseases
We use our teeth and mouths for many things, so it’s not surprising that many things happen to them over time, especially if they aren’t adequately cared for. A good oral hygiene routine can help prevent most dental and oral problems. Nearly everyone will face some form of dental or oral problem during their lifetime.
Cavities
Cavities are also known as tooth decay. They consist of damaged areas of the tooth, possibly with holes. The condition is relatively common. They form when bacteria, food, and acid coat your teeth and create plaque. When acid starts eating them away, your teeth begin to decay, first the enamel, then the dentin, or connective tissue beneath the enamel. Eventually, this can result in permanent damage to your teeth.
Gum disease (gingivitis)
Inflammation of the gums is known as gingivitis. You usually get it when plaque accumulates on your teeth due to improper brushing and flossing habits. The symptoms of gingivitis include swelling and bleeding when you brush or floss. Periodontitis can occur as a result of untreated gingivitis.
Periodontitis
Once periodontitis gets worse, the infection can reach your jaw and bones. The infection can also cause inflammation throughout your entire body.
Sensitive teeth
Having cold or hot foods or beverages can cause pain or discomfort if your teeth are sensitive. A root canal or filling can temporarily cause tooth sensitivity. It is also known as dentin hypersensitivity. Other causes include:
- gum disease
- receding gums
- Broken teeth
- Crowns or fillers that are worn down
Due to thin enamel, some people have naturally sensitive teeth. You can change your daily oral hygiene routine to treat naturally sensitive teeth most of the time. Special toothpaste and mouthwashes are available for people with sensitive teeth. You can buy sensitive-tooth toothpaste and mouthwash.
Oral cancer
Dentists are usually the first to notice oral cancer. Tobacco consumption, including smoking and chewing tobacco, is the most significant risk factor for oral cancer.
Tips to Maintain a Good Oral Health
Brush your teeth before going to bed.
Brushing at least twice a day is generally recommended by most experts. Many people still don’t brush at night. By brushing before bed, you remove plaque and germs accumulated throughout the day.
Ensure proper brushing.
Poorly brushing your teeth is almost as bad as not brushing at all. To remove plaque, move your toothbrush in gentle, circular motions. Unchecked plaque can eventually develop into calculus and gingivitis (early periodontitis).
Don’t forget your tongue.
Your tongue can also accumulate plaque. In addition to causing bad breath, this can lead to other oral health problems. Make sure to brush your tongue after every brushing.
Use fluoride toothpaste.
A toothpaste’s whitening power and flavor are not the most critical factors. Be sure to choose one that contains fluoride. Despite worries about how fluoride might affect other parts of health, it remains an essential ingredient in oral health. Fluoride plays a role in preventing tooth decay. Besides providing a protective barrier for your teeth, it fights the bacteria that cause decay.
Flossing is as important as brushing.
Regular brushers often forget to floss. If you floss, you are not just removing food particles stuck between the teeth; you are also stimulating your gums, reducing plaque, and lowering inflammation. These benefits are usually obtained by flossing once a day.
Flossing difficulties should not stop you.
Particularly for children and the elderly, flossing can be difficult. Instead of giving up, try to find equipment that will help you floss. You can improve your dental health with ready-to-use dental flossers from the pharmacy.
Use mouthwash.
Mouthwash seems necessary for good oral health, but many people don’t know how it works, so they skip it. The benefits of mouthwash include:
- Reducing acid levels in the mouth.
- Cleaning tough-to-brush areas around the gums.
- Remineralizing the teeth.
Especially for children and the elderly, where brushing and flossing may not be ideal, mouthwash is beneficial.
Get specific mouthwash recommendations from your dentist. Some brands are best suited for children or people with sensitive teeth.
Reduce your intake of sugary and acidic foods.
In the mouth, sugar is converted into acid, which then erodes the enamel of the teeth. Cavities are a result of these acids. The enamel on the teeth can also be damaged by acidic fruits, teas, and coffee. Though you do not have to avoid such foods altogether, being mindful can’t hurt.
Visit your dentist at least twice a year.
Regular dental visits are essential, even for diligent brushers and flossers. Ideally, you should see your dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups. In addition to removing calculus and looking for cavities, a dentist can also find potential problems and offer treatment solutions.
Dental and Oral Health in Iran
In the 1930s, the first dental school was founded in Tehran, changing the course of dentistry and dental care in Iran. There are currently dozens of dental colleges training hundreds of dentists in Iran every year in various dental specialties, so dentistry in Iran has come a long way since then.
Today, Iran is home to hundreds of dental clinics staffed by professional specialists. These clinics provide a variety of medical and cosmetic dental procedures like tooth whitening, dental veneers, dental implants, root canals, scaling, and root planing, braces, tooth extraction, gum surgery, and other services.
Professional Dentists in Iran
The Iranian dentists and dental surgeons rank among the best in the Middle East. Thanks to the high demand for medical and cosmetic dental procedures in Iran, Iranian dental specialists quickly gain experience in their profession.
Cost of Dental Care in Iran
In Iran, dental procedures are available at very reasonable prices. The average fee charged by Iranian dentists is a fraction of what dentists in developed countries charge patients. Due to this, many Iranians living abroad get their dental work done in Iran during their visits home. Dental care in Iran may be inexpensive, but the quality is not. It is a result of economic factors such as low taxes, low cost of living, and above all, the dramatic increase in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the Iranian Rial.
Should I Visit Iran for Dental Work?
Whether you are looking for affordable dental work or you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on a dental procedure in your own country, Iran is worth considering as a dental tourism destination. Iranian dental treatments have countless advantages. There are many benefits to traveling to Iran, such as the friendly people, the colorful culture, the low cost of living and accommodations, and the low cost of dental care in Iran.