April is Dental Health Month and, recently, dental hygienist Kari Delwisch and office manager and certified dental assistant Shelley Swaile from Dr. Jawanda’s office, along with Miss Quesnel Dental Group candidate Megan Swaile, brought their expertise and information to Dunrovin Day Program participants. As well as distributing a dental care package and speaking with the seniors about their dental care, Delwisch examined the mouths of some of the people.
“We wanted to promote dental health month and share with the seniors why dental health is important,” Shelley Swaile said.
Some advice from the Canadian Dental Association includes:
• See your dentist regularly. Regular exams and professional cleanings are the best way to prevent problems or to stop small problems from getting worse. Your dentist can look for signs of oral disease which can go unnoticed and may lead to serious health problems in other parts of the body.
• Keep your teeth clean. Brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque and bacteria which cause cavities and periodontal disease. Floss every day. If you don’t floss, you are missing more than a third of your tooth surface.
• Eat, drink, but be wary. Healthy food is good for your general health and your oral health. The nutrients that come from healthy foods help you to fight cavities and gum disease. Limit how much and how often you consume foods and beverages that contain sugar. Sugar is one of the main causes of dental problems. Limit your consumption of foods and beverages high in acid. The acid may play a part in causing dental erosion.
• Check your mouth regularly. Look for warning signs of gum disease such as red, shiny, puffy, sore or sensitive gums; bleeding gums, bleeding when you brush or floss; or bad breath that won’t go away. Gum disease is one of the main reasons adults lose their teeth. Look for warning signs of oral cancer.
The three most common sites for oral cancer are the sides and bottom of your tongue and the floor of your mouth.
Warning signs include bleeding that you can’t explain, open sores that don’t heal within 7 – 10 days, white or red patches, numbness or tingling or small lumps and thickening on the sides or bottom of your tongue, the floor or roof of your mouth, the inside of your cheeks or on your gums.
Look for signs of tooth decay. The possible warning signs include teeth that are sensitive to hot, cold, sweetness or pressure.
• Avoid all tobacco products. Stained and missing teeth, infected gums and bad breath are just some of the ways smoking can affect your oral health. Besides ruining your smile, smoking can cause oral cancer, heart disease and a variety of other cancers, all of which can kill you. All forms of tobacco are dangerous to your oral health and your overall health, not just cigarettes.
Smokeless tobacco such as chewing tobacco, snuff and snus can cause mouth, tongue and lip cancer and can be more addictive than cigarettes. If you use tobacco products, ask your dentist and your family doctor for advice on how to quit.
For information on your best oral health, consult with a dentist.
