March 6th is Dentist Day. For the Dux students studying dentistry, we all salute you! For the rest of us, it is a reminder to make a dentist appointment like the responsible young adults we are supporting you to become. You do not want to be the brunt of jokes like these:
- Yo’mama’s teeth are like stars – slightly yellow and very far apart!
- Yo’Mama’s teeth are so crooked, when she smiles, it looks like her mouth is throwing gang signs!
- What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear!
- Redneck murders are hard to solve. There are no dental records and all of the DNA is the same!
- What’s 10 metres long and has 42 teeth? A bus full of rednecks!
Beauty Is More Than Skin Deep
Picture Pearl Thusi. Perhaps her name is part of the secret to her perfect set of pearly whites! While a beautiful smile is worth sharing, good oral and dental health goes deeper than that.
(Pearl Thusi ex Channel24)
To avoid stinky breath, gum disease, and missing teeth when you are older – best you brush and floss properly.
Healthy teeth are always in style, but oral hygiene also plays a big part in your overall health. Colgate refers to your mouth as “a window into what's going on in the rest of your body, often serving as a helpful vantage point for detecting the early signs and symptoms of systemic disease (a disease that affects or pertains to your entire body, not just one of its parts). In fact, according to the Academy of General Dentistry, more than 90 percent of all systemic diseases produce oral signs and symptoms.”
Saliva, Spit, Gob, Amathe
You may be shocked to learn that over 500 species of bacteria call your mouth home at any given time. As these bacteria form dental plaque, so your saliva uses antibodies and enzymes to fight disease-causing organisms.
If left unchecked, the bacteria can cause gum disease, which in turn leads to tooth loss – having a negative effect on your nutrition, speech, appearance, and overall health. Gum disease has also been linked to poorly controlled diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and preterm birth.
Stop Gum Disease In Its Tracks
- These symptoms could indicate gum disease:
- Bad breath that won’t go away.
- Red or swollen gums.
- Tender or bleeding gums.
- Painful chewing.
- Loose teeth.
- Sensitive teeth.
- Receding gums or longer appearing teeth.
To prevent and minimise gum disease:
- Brush your teeth twice a day, for at least two minutes each time.
- Floss at least once a day.
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Schedule regular visits to your dentist.
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco products.*
*This leads us neatly onto the next section….
Stress, Stress Relievers, and Your Teeth
When you are stressed, your mouth gets stressed too – from jaw joint issues and bruxism (teeth-grinding) to stress-induced oral infections or sores.
You guessed it, though: Alcohol and tobacco are the worst mechanisms for coping with stress because they only worsen your oral symptoms.
Best Brushing Basics
American firm, Cigna Dental Health, Inc. offers these guidelines for brushing your teeth:
“Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
Brush gently, using the tips of the bristles to do the cleaning.
Change the position of the brush frequently. Move in a slow, circular motion across all the surfaces of every tooth.
Floss daily to remove plaque from between your teeth and under your gum line, where your toothbrush may not reach. That’s where gum disease often begins.
Finally, gently brush the roof of your mouth, the insides of your cheeks, and your tongue.”
Dux
Get your Dux in a row. Contact us today to join the elite group of students are receiving so much more than just an academic education. We want you to have a winning smile!
“Dux dʌks noun
The top pupil in a school or class.”
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