The Value of Dental Health in Everyday Life

The value of dental health shows up every day, usually without you noticing: eating what you like without pain, speaking and smiling with confidence, sleeping through the night without a toothache, and keeping your own teeth as you get older. It reaches beyond your mouth too. The health of your gums has been linked to serious health risks such as diabetes and cardiac disease. And because dental problems caught early usually need smaller treatment, a healthy mouth saves time, discomfort and money.

This article from the Timonium office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS looks at what healthy teeth and gums actually give you, what your mouth can reveal at a checkup, and the simple habits that protect it.

Eating well starts with healthy teeth

Chewing is the first step of digestion, and it depends on teeth that are comfortable, stable and meet properly. When a tooth is sensitive, loose or missing, people quietly change what they eat. Crunchy vegetables, nuts, apples and tougher proteins are often the first to go, replaced by softer and more processed foods.

Keeping your teeth healthy keeps those choices open. If you have already lost teeth, replacing them can bring chewing back. Read what does a missing tooth say about you? and learn about dental implants in Timonium.

Speaking, smiling and confidence

Teeth help shape many of the sounds you make when you speak, and a gap or a loose denture can change how words come out. A smile you are comfortable showing affects first impressions, photos, conversations and how often you laugh without covering your mouth. Read a smile is one of your most important social assets.

Comfort: a mouth that doesn’t hurt

Dental pain is hard to ignore. A throbbing tooth can keep you up at night, sensitivity can make cold drinks unpleasant, and jaw tension from grinding can show up as headaches. Much of this discomfort starts with problems that were small and painless at first: a cavity that grew, gums that slowly receded, or enamel worn down by years of grinding.

Grinding slowly wears down and cracks enamel, often without you noticing, and comfortable, clear bite guards custom-made for you help protect your teeth. Jaw tenderness and frequent head or neck aches can point to a TMJ disorder that is worth evaluating.

If your mouth is healthy, the rest of you benefits

The mouth is an entry point to the rest of the body. Bacteria that start in the mouth don’t necessarily stay there, and the health of your gums has been linked directly to serious health risks such as diabetes and cardiac disease. That relationship is sometimes called the oral systemic connection, and it is a good question to ask about at your next visit.

A healthy mouth isn’t a guarantee against illness, and dental care doesn’t replace care from your physician. But keeping gum infection under control is one practical way to look after your overall health. Read healthy teeth and body: holistic dentistry in Timonium and a dentist for diabetics in Timonium.

What your mouth can reveal at a checkup

A thorough exam looks at far more than cavities. At the practice, Dr. Haywood evaluates your teeth and gums, looks at your bite for TMJ issues, and reviews your health history and medications. Along the way, an exam can pick up signs such as:

• Gum inflammation or deep pockets, which mean infection.
• Dry mouth, often linked to medications, which can set the stage for root decay.
• Worn or cracked enamel, a sign of grinding or acid wear.
• Changes in the soft tissues of the mouth, throat and tongue, which is why an oral cancer screening is part of the checkup.
• Early decay, which DIAGNOdent laser detection can find sometimes before it shows on an X-ray.

If something in your mouth suggests a question for your physician, Dr. Haywood will tell you. See oral cancer screening.

Keeping your own teeth for life

Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and it worsens as it progresses. Decay rates also increase with age. Neither is inevitable. Gum infection that is caught early and treated as a serious infection can be managed and controlled, and treatment can control and even reverse the early stages of gum disease. Regular care is what makes the difference. Read are dentures inevitable as you get older?

The value of small, early fixes

A cavity found early usually needs only a filling. Left alone, the same cavity can grow into a larger filling, a crown or a root canal. Gum inflammation found early can be cleaned and controlled before it becomes a deeper infection. In both cases, early care is usually simpler, quicker and less costly than what comes later, and it keeps more of your natural tooth.

That is the thinking behind unhurried preventive visits. Cleaning appointments at the practice last a full 60 minutes, and a professional cleaning every six months is recommended. Digital X-rays appear on screen right away, so you can see what the team sees.

Daily habits that protect your dental health

• Brush twice a day for two minutes with a soft brush and gentle pressure. Read smart brushing beats aggressive brushing.
• Clean between your teeth once a day.
• Don’t forget your tongue, where odor-causing bacteria collect.
• Brush before bed. Saliva flow slows during sleep, so night is when leftover plaque does the most harm.
• Drink water and keep sweet and acidic drinks to mealtimes.
• Don’t smoke or vape. Read how smoking and vaping affect your teeth and gums.
• Protect teeth from grinding if you clench or grind.

For the products that make these habits easier, read products to help your oral health at home.

Protection the practice adds

• Super sealants seal the chewing surfaces of adult and children’s teeth and come with a lifetime warranty.
• Calcium rebuilding treatments. For anyone who prefers to avoid fluoride, the practice offers calcium rebuilding treatments instead, to help strengthen enamel for patients of all ages.
• Non-surgical gum care, including scaling and root planing and periodontal maintenance, led by experienced hygienists.
• Comfort options. Laughing gas is offered as a complimentary service, and oral sedation is available.

See general dentistry in Timonium.

Paying for your care

The practice is out of network with all dental insurance providers. You pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for whatever it covers. Health savings and flex plans are welcome, and financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with plans from 3 to 24 months. See financing options.

Frequently asked questions

Why is dental health important?

Healthy teeth and gums let you eat, speak and smile comfortably, help you keep your natural teeth, and support your overall health, since gum health has been linked to conditions such as diabetes and cardiac disease.

Can problems in your mouth affect the rest of your body?

The mouth is an entry point to the rest of the body, and gum infection has been linked to serious health risks. Keeping gum infection under control is part of caring for your overall health.

Is preventive care worth it if nothing hurts?

Yes. Early decay and gum disease often cause no pain, and finding them early usually means simpler treatment.

How often should I see a dentist?

A checkup and professional cleaning every six months is the usual starting point. Read how often should you get a dental checkup?

Invest in your dental health in Timonium

The best time to protect your teeth is before something hurts. Request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093, serving Timonium, Lutherville, Cockeysville, Towson and Hunt Valley. New patients are always welcome.