Signs To Watch For Good Oral Health

By Dr Luke Cronin

Signs To Watch For Good Oral Health
Five signs to look out for to keep your mouth - and body - healthy.

Are you brushing your teeth correctly? When was the last time you visited the dentist? With World Oral Health Day on March 20th, Cosmetic Dentist Dr Luke Cronin shares the top five things you should be looking out for in order to keep your mouth healthy.

Ground-down teeth

Flat-worn teeth are often signs of teeth-grinding, which is largely a sign of increased stress. While grinding teeth can be seen as a harmless habit it’s important to address this as it may lead to discomfort in the muscles and jaws of the face, called TMD, later down the track. If you’re a grinder, start by simply evaluating your daily life to see what things you may be able to address to de-stress your life. If all else fails, it’s important you speak to your dentist as you may be able to explore getting a custom-made mouth guard to prevent long-term damage.

Bad breath

Bad breath is often linked to dry mouth and gum disease, but it can also simply reflect poor diet choices in addition to a lacklustre oral health routine. On top of reviewing your diet and any medications you may be taking, take a look at your oral health routine to ensure you’re brushing, flossing and also cleaning your tongue morning and night – while drinking lots of water throughout the day. If your bad breath persists, visit your local GP as it could be an indication of other health issues that they can explore with you.

Swollen gums

If you find your gums are constantly swollen, red and tender, you may already have or be developing gum disease or periodontal disease. This can often be the sign of a poor oral health routine so it’s important to prevent these symptoms by investing in a quality brush such as the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart – focused on reducing the early signs of gum disease. If you’re already finding that you have gums that are sore to touch or are bleeding, it’s important to visit your dentist to get this in check particularly as this has also been associated with the likes of Diabetes and Heart Disease.

 Mouth Ulcers

In most cases, mouth ulcers resolve by themselves in a few days and are normally caused by either stress or tissue injury such as accidentally biting your cheek. On top of aiming to reduce your stress levels by pinpointing the cause of your stress, try also avoiding acidic and spicy foods while also brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush. If you do find yourself waking up with recurring ulcers, some studies have shown a link with gluten intolerance or a mineral deficiency such as zinc, so it’s important to bring it up with your local dentist or GP to get to the bottom of it.   

Discoloured teeth

With age, your teeth are likely to discolour through stains on the surface or by changes in the tooth material, but early discolouration through your 20s/30s and 40s can also be a sign of poor drinks and diet choices. To prevent early damage, try to avoid or simply consume less certain stain-causing foods and drinks like coffee, tea, red wine, sports drinks and tomato sauce, but, if you do indulge a good habit is to rinse your mouth with water straight afterwards. If your lifestyle choices don’t seem to be the culprit and you’ve noticed a recent change in the colour of your teeth, it’s important to visit your dentist to explore this further.  

Dr Cronin is a Cosmetic Dentist at Quality Dental in North Sydney.

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