Dental Health Guides

Wanting your pearly whites to look good is more than just vanity — dental care is vital to your overall health. Poor oral care can lead to gum disease or periodontitis, a condition that has been linked with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, according to a 2010 report published in the Journal of Periodontal Research. Knowing that you’re caring for your heart while you’re caring for the teeth can give you one good reason to smile and to keep up with your dental care.

Speaking of medical conditions, there are lots of health issues out there that influence how you care for your teeth and how often you make a trip to the dentist. From checking up on your braces to caring for your teeth when you have diabetes, you may have to make some extra considerations for how you care for your teeth that go beyond just flossing and brushing. Here’s an example: if you’re wearing braces, you may need to skip the floss in favor of an air flosser that uses water to get between your teeth instead. And if you’re expecting, it’s important to note that you can still undergo dental work that requires topical and local anesthetics, even between 13 and 21 weeks of pregnancy, according to the American Dental Association.

These differences means a once-size-fits-all approach likely won’t work for your dental care. Talk to your dentist about what might make you special when it comes to your dental care. From a family history of dental disorders to any medical conditions you may have, knowing what’s different about the way you care for your teeth can keep you healthy. But you don’t have to Google every individual health condition because TopDentists’ dental guides can give you a comprehensive look at how to care for your dental health. While you’re reading, look up the health conditions for your whole family so you’ll know how to help all your loved ones keep their teeth and gums healthy.