Dental Hygiene Tips for Men
On the subject of taking care of their mouth and teeth, some men tend to not be as dedicated as women. Even when it comes to checkups, surveys suggest that men are more likely to only visit a dentist when something is wrong with their mouth or teeth. So, for the guys out there, take these tips to heart and step up in the oral health game. These tips are necessary for maintaining a healthy smile and preventing oral health problems and diseases before they start, which helps out heavily in the long run.
Toothbrush Tips
Brushing one’s teeth is just the first part of tooth care, especially doing so twice a day. However, the average man fails to do this most of the time. It’s not enough to just run the brush over teeth quickly and call it a day—brushing for a solid two minutes is recommended by nearly all dental professionals. Some helpful hints to keep in mind when it comes to toothbrushes include being sure to replace them every three to four months and rinsing after each use. Store it in an upright position to air dry since storing toothbrushes in a container encourages the growth of bacteria.
Sports Injuries
Playing many contact sports can easily lead to trauma in unexpected ways like broken, chipped, or even lost teeth. Wear a mouth guard when playing sports as well as a helmet when on a bicycle or motorcycle. If an incident with teeth occurs, be sure to schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible, so he or she can assess the damage that has been done and determine how best to fix it.
Tobacco
Whether one chooses to smoke or chew tobacco, this nasty habit increases risks for gum disease and oral cancer. A person can even be at risk of losing up to 12 teeth by the time he or she reaches early 70s. For these reasons, men are more likely to develop oral cancer than women, and this also makes regular checkups a requirement for oral health. In addition to checking for cavities and gum diseases, dentists can look for warning signs of cancer in the mouth.
This allows patients to start treatment as early as possible. It’s best to quit tobacco use altogether, but if you are determined to do it, then visit your dentist regularly. Preventative care goes a long way in protecting the mouth in the long run.
If you or a loved one is in need of a visit to the dentist, you can sign up for our New Hampshire Family Discount Dental Plan and save as much as 20 percent on your dental bills. For more information, please click here. We also offer Employee Discount Dental Plans for business owners offering dental to their employees.
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