Young adults that are out on their own for the first time in their lives often have the reputation of not taking the best care of themselves. And we completely understand! There’s a lot you must handle when you must be dependent on yourself for the first time in your life! Doing your own laundry, shopping for (and cooking) your own meals, and juggling a social life outside of work can be tiresome! One thing that is oftentimes neglected first is routine visits to their family dentist. Oral health is a key area that, if neglected, can lead to serious financial and quality of life consequences later.
Make Habit of Good Oral Hygiene
If you don’t already have a quality teeth cleaning routine, it’s time to start to brush, floss, and rinse as our team at our office has taught you. It’s important to brush at least twice a day or after meals, and floss your teeth every day. If you are not able to brush your teeth after eating, you can swish water around in your mouth to remove the food from your teeth. Although it won’t remove all food from your teeth, it will help remove some of the sugars from your mouth until you’re able to brush them clean. Leaving carbohydrates in your mouth allows bacteria to ferment, which produces acid. This acid can eat away at your tooth enamel and put you at risk for future decay.
Visit Our Office Consistently
Being a young adult can be a challenging sometimes when it comes to medical care. Your parents no longer pay for your health insurance or taking you to your appointments… Let alone schedule them for you! You might not worry much about getting regular cleanings and exams, especially if you’re paying for them yourself. You also might think that because you’re on the younger side, your teeth don’t need to be cleaned as much – but we can assure you they do.
Younger adults have a lot to gain from visiting our dental office regularly. Our dental team can check for signs of problems and fix them early, which can help to save you thousands of dollars and, ultimately, your teeth in the long term.
- Removal of plaque so it does not turn into tartar which can cause issues with your gums.
- Identify and fill small areas of tooth decay to prevent it from worsening.
- Examine your gums for signs of gingivitis, or early gum disease.
Attempt to Consume A Tooth-Healthy Diet
A nutritious diet is not just for preventing health issues such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes later in life. A well-balanced and healthy diet also supports your teeth. Make sure to get plenty of calcium, such as from dairy products, canned fish, and green vegetables to allow for strong teeth. Also, try to limit sticky foods and sugary sweets as these some of the main causes of tooth decay.