Visiting the dentist can be an anxiety-inducing experience, especially if it has been a while since your last checkup. However, having a partner in oral health is extremely important, especially before you experience any pain.
“More than 50% of people over the age of 30 have some form of periodontal or gum disease,” says Dr. Cristina Markiewicz, owner of Newbury Park Dental Arts. “When you're not routinely seeing a dentist, that inflammation of the gums erodes the bones that support the teeth. Since most people lose teeth due to periodontal disease and not cavities, it's important to treat it early and to stabilize the gums and the bones.”
Cavities are a common issue for some, and when the cavity is very small, you often don’t even know it’s there.
“People can have cavities or bacteria in the teeth that break down the teeth,” she says. “By the time they start feeling a cavity, it's usually deeper in the tooth and the cost to repair it is significantly higher. It may even lead to more extensive treatment like a crown or root canal.”
To foster good oral health habits early on, Dr. Markiewicz likes to see children under the age of one, or by their first tooth. After that, routine care is established.
“Each person’s oral health needs may differ,” she says. “Someone who has a very healthy mouth, no periodontal disease, and no cavities can see a dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and checkup. On the other hand, someone who has periodontal disease may need to see one three to four times a year.”
Dentists also check for other issues like oral cancer and airway problems such as sleep apnea. For kids, they may also look to see if they have large tonsils or any breathing issues.
“In my practice specifically, I check if they're having chronic pain and TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder),” says Dr. Markiewicz.
Establishing good oral hygiene habits at home can help prevent and reduce many of the issues that can develop over time. Here, Dr. Markiewicz gives us some tips on the best ways to take care of our teeth and gums:
- Not all toothbrushes are made the same. I highly recommend an electric toothbrush, and my two favorite brands are Sonicare and Oral-B. They really do a lot of the work to keep our teeth clean.
- Flossing is so important. They just did a study and only 30% of people are flossing and if you don't floss, 35% of the tooth surfaces aren't being cleaned. That bacteria is just growing in between those teeth and adding to that periodontal disease. Also, one of my favorite adjunct items is a water flosser—I love the cordless WaterPik®.
- There are many mouthwashes on the market, but my favorite one is made by Closys because it's very sensitive on the gums and it has all the little goodies that really promote great oral health at home. Some brands really dry out the oral tissues because the alcohol compromises your natural saliva, which in turn compromises your body's own buffering capacity to restore your oral health. I also recommend a tongue scraper to remove bacteria from all those little crevices.
Maintaining optimal oral health is not only important for teeth and gums, but for the rest of your body as well.
“Any time you have an infection, whether it be a gum infection like periodontal disease or a cavity that has bacteria, that bacteria can get into your bloodstream and cause a whole host of medical issues,” she says.
“For people who are diabetic, it’s actually more difficult to manage their blood sugar levels if they're not managing their oral health. Others with poor oral health may be at higher risk factors for heart disease.”
Dr. Markiewicz and her team go out of their way to make patients feel comfortable, including those who are nervous about seeing a dentist.
“We let them know that we’re an advocate for helping them improve their oral health. We're so happy that they've made the decision to take care of themselves, and we never scold them for neglecting to come to the dentist.”
For more, go to NewburyParkDentalArts.com.