Is Your Man Looking After Their Smile?

Apparently, it is a real thing and is where men tend to assume that they are invincible, and they don’t really need to take good care of their bodies. Men with this syndrome tend to ignore signs that something is wrong, and merely hope their body will somehow sort the situation out. A recent survey discovered that bleeding gums are a typical example of this mindset.

The survey discovered that only 10 percent of men and women who noticed blood on their toothbrush or in the sink would actually bother to visit their dentist to find out what was wrong. While women may be equally as guilty for ignoring this sign, they usually look after themselves a bit better than men, and especially when it comes to practicing good oral hygiene.

Another survey in the UK discovered that nearly two-thirds of men regretted not looking after their dental health when they were younger. And if this sounds familiar, there is some good news, as it is never too late to change and taking action now could help your man preserve their smile for years to come. Listed below are some easy tips to help your other half enjoy better oral health, but they can help both sexes too!

Cutting Down on Alcohol

Lots of people enjoy drinking and regard it as an important part of their social life. However, while a few drinks are great, drinking too much can play havoc with oral health. The problem is that alcoholic beverages tend to be quite acidic. When you drink something acidic, and especially if you sip continuously on these drinks throughout the evening, it gradually erodes tooth enamel.

The acid softens the enamel, removing some essential minerals including calcium and phosphorus. As tooth enamel erodes it can increase tooth sensitivity, so you’re more likely to experience pain or discomfort whenever you eat or drink something very sweet or sour, or which is hot or cold. Eventually, tooth enamel erosion causes cavities, and without treatment, these cavities can progress into a severe tooth infection.

Additionally, when you drink too much, you’re more likely to neglect oral hygiene. When you get home after a long night out, spending just a couple of minutes cleaning your teeth can seem like too much! Yet another risk of drinking too much is mouth cancer. Oral cancer can affect the soft tissues inside the mouth including the cheeks, lips, tongue, throat, and the roof and floor of the mouth. When you drink too much regularly, your chances of developing oral cancer are increased. Keeping your drinking to a sensible level can bring numerous health benefits, and you don’t need to have a lot to drink to enjoy yourself.

Still smoking? Resolve to quit.

Smoking is terrible for oral health and can cause far worse problems than merely bad breath and stained teeth. Smokers are far more likely to develop periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease, which is a significant cause of tooth loss. The main problem with smoking is that it can mask the early signs of gum disease including bleeding gums because of the way it affects blood vessels.

When you smoke, your blood vessels constrict, so they are less able to transport oxygen and nutrients to your gums and to carry away harmful toxins. This makes it harder for your gums to fight infection and to heal effectively so even though they may look pink and healthy, they could well be diseased.

Visiting the Dentist

Regularly visiting the dentist is such an obvious thing to do but all too often dental visits are postponed, often permanently until a problem arises. Usually, most healthy adults need to see their dentist twice a year or as frequently as recommended. These visits should be viewed as ongoing preventative care, just like you see your doctor regularly for health checks. Regularly seeing a dentist is by far the easiest way to detect, treat or even prevent problems before they begin.

Hygiene appointments are another critical part of ongoing preventative dental care, and you can see your hygienist at the same time as your dentist or as a stand-alone appointment. A hygienist takes care of your gums and teeth, removing any plaque and tartar buildup which significantly improves gum health and is essential for helping to prevent gum disease.

Also, hygienists are great educators and can help you improve your oral health routine by providing valuable tips and practical advice on how to brush and floss your teeth more effectively. Just ask them for help! You’ll typically only need to spend an hour every six months seeing your dentist and hygienist, and it’s an approach that will save you time and money in the longer term. The chances that you will enjoy your natural teeth for life are far higher when you adopt this simple routine!

In addition to checking your teeth, your dentist carries out another important health screening which could even save your life. Did you realize your dentist screens for oral cancer? Your dentist is by far the best person to check your mouth regularly for any signs of oral cancer, and they are specifically trained to carry out this checkup. The screening is very quick, entirely painless and non-invasive. Some dentists will visually examine your mouth and will manually check your tissues for any lumps or bumps. Others have special screening devices that emit a specific type of light that will fluoresce slightly differently if it detects any changes in your mouth.

Quit using your teeth as tools.

We’ve all been in this situation where a packet is impossible to get into without reaching for scissors or a knife. The quick approach is to use your hands or fingers, and unfortunately, lots of people also use their teeth. This even applies when opening things like bottles. The worst thing you can do is to use your teeth as tools because they aren’t designed to work this way. You could end up cracking a tooth, or even chipping or fracturing it. It could be a costly decision, so instead, reach for the proper tool and keep your teeth for chewing food.

A lot of looking after your dental health is just common sense, but it does require a bit of commitment. However, a good oral hygiene routine takes less than 10 minutes each day, time men and women can afford to spend on their teeth.