ST. PAUL – April is national Oral Health Month - a campaign dedicated to raising awareness on maintaining good dental hygiene.
Dr. Julie Miller, dentist at the Dr. Ken Miller - St. Paul Dental Care clinic in St. Paul, provides some essential tips on what preventive measures can be taken to maintain good oral health.
Maintenance
Miller says brushing twice a day - in the morning and at night - ideally for two minutes is important. “
Make sure you’re getting all the surfaces in your mouth,” she advises, then flossing at least once a day “before you brush at bedtime.” Doing so ensures all the surfaces of your teeth are clean.
It is also recommended for people to visit the dentist at least once a year for a check-up. And at least once or twice a year for dental cleaning for adults and kids.
The earlier, the better
“When it comes to preventative measures... it’s also super important for us to be seeing kids. The earlier the better. We even see babies,” says Miller.
She explained that early intervention makes it easier for dentists to detect issues like airway issues or malformation issues in the teeth.
“It's so much easier to address... [or] to treat younger than leaving it until later,” she adds.
What happens if we don’t take care of our teeth?
“Neglecting your teeth, or not taking care of them, and not having them checked regularly, can lead to some [dental problems] being missed or not diagnosed,” says Miller, which may lead to even bigger problems.
When dentists do check-ups, they also inspect the patient’s head, neck, and all the oral tissue, says Miller. For example, “When we’re doing our exams, we’re also doing oral cancer screen, and looking for any abnormalities in the whole of the head and neck region,” she explains.
“We're also good at diagnosing other things that could be going on in the body as well,” such as nutrient deficiencies, says Miller. “We're just another point of care when it comes to somebody's overall health.”
Recognizing signs of potential oral health issues
Some of the most common oral health issues Miller sees in her practice are cavities, gum disease, and infections.
Cavities are usually formed on the plaque of the teeth. When that plaque builds up, it creates an acid that damages the teeth enamel leading to cavities.
One of the first signs of a cavity is when people feel sensitivity to heat or cold, in addition to holes or missing pieces in their teeth, says Miller.
For abscesses or infections, one way to spot it is if you feel discomfort in your gums, like throbbing, swelling, or pain.
Also, if gums are red or inflamed, it could be a sign that something is wrong.
“Gums in your mouth should be pink... so [red] can be one of the signs that there might be something like a localized gum infection or something going on with the gums themselves.”
Contributors to bad oral health
Miller says limiting some types of food can help with maintaining good dental health, such as sugary foods or drinks, “especially for kids.” Sugary foods stick to the teeth, contributing to cavity build up, which forms a lot faster in kids’ teeth.
Smoking and vaping are also high causes for oral cancer. “When talking about [oral health], it would be negligent for us not to talk about oral cancer, as well,” says Miller, explaining it’s even more important for smokers to visit the dentist regularly.
“So, we can make sure there isn’t any problematic tissue forming or early signs of cancer.”
