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The condition of your teeth affects more than just your mouth. Poor oral health can lead to tooth loss and poor overall health for many reasons. For one, an unhealthy mouth makes proper, healthy eating difficult. Poor eating habits affect weight, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. Many diseases are also linked to poor oral health, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Bad teeth can also sap your self confidence and cause you to isolate yourself socially.

Monitoring oral health can also lead to preventing tooth loss and early detection of other health problems, because symptoms often show up in the mouth. Some illnesses that include oral symptoms are HIV/AIDS, osteoporosis, and some forms of cancer. It isn’t just your mouth that benefits from maintaining good oral health.

The main causes of tooth loss in adults are tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. Both of these conditions can be minimized or eliminated with proper mouth care. Here are steps you can take to minimize your risk of tooth loss.

1. To prevent tooth loss brush teeth twice daily
2. To prevent tooth loss floss teeth once a day
3. To prevent losing teeth have a dental check-up once every 6 to 12 months
4. To prevent tooth loss use fluoride therapy in the form of toothpastes or mouth rinses
5. Consider use of dental sealants in children
6. To stop tooth loss Promptly treat dental problems such as damaged fillings
7. Quit smoking.  Smoking or chewing tobacco drastically increases the risk of oral cancer

Perhaps taking care of your teeth seems like too much of a chore to bother with, but there are a number of ways to make it more convenient and pleasant. Have you noticed how many kinds of toothpaste there are? It may be overwhelming to visit the toothpaste aisle at your local store and be confronted with dozens, if not hundreds of varieties of toothpaste. Dentists say that toothpaste with fluoride is best, but beyond that, it is more of a personal preference.

Aside from having fluoride to prevent cavities, the best toothpaste is the one that you’ll actually use. So don’t be afraid to spend a little bit more to get the kind of toothpaste you want. If you buy toothpaste you don’t care for based on price, and then don’t use it, it isn’t a bargain and doesn’t help your teeth.

Remember, by preventing tooth loss, you’re not only helping your teeth, but also the rest of your body, and your self confidence as well!