Being confined to your home during this unprecedented time gives us an opportunity to focus on our families and reflect on what’s important in our lives. I know that’s true for me as I want to do everything possible to protect my wife and teenage daughters.
It’s also an ideal time to focus on our health, not just to be as strong as possible to fight off this devastating virus, but to live healthier lives as we look toward the future.
It is well-documented, yet not widely disseminated, that maintaining proper oral health is a key element of staving off many diseases and remaining healthy. If we allow our mouths to suffer from gum disease and other bacteria producing conditions, we increase our risk of many serious chronic diseases including diabetes, heart and pulmonary disease, oral and other cancers, kidney disease, and even Alzheimer’s disease.
This is of particular importance for our children — we see too many cases where children’s teeth are ignored, and we are forced to take invasive action that could have easily been avoided.
While kids are out of school and parents are looking for ways to keep their children’s brains and bodies sharp, they should also be reminding their children to properly brush and floss. At a time when nothing can be more important than keeping ourselves and our families healthy, follow these simple steps to better oral health:
· Brush after every meal and after snacks. Whether you’re home from work or school, you’re likely eating more frequently — that means brushing more frequently too.
· Just like we’re singing “Happy Birthday” while washing our hands to make sure we do it right, we should take just as much time when we brush and floss our teeth.
· Be sure to brush ALL tooth surfaces (front, back, tops and gumline) and contacting our gum tissues simultaneously.
And, of course, once things get back to normal — which they eventually will — please see your dentist on a regular basis.
During this unprecedented time, our offices are remaining open for emergencies in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Westchester. We are the only clinical dental organization in New York that has clinical affiliations with high-quality medical groups and healthcare systems so we can coordinate care with your physicians.
Our mission at ProHEALTH Dental is educating and promoting oral health as an integral step towards improved overall health. Visit us online at www.prohealthcaredental.com.
Bruce G. Valauri, DDS, FACP, is Chief Dental Officer, ProHEALTH Dental
