Evaluate Your Oral Health With This Simple Checklist

Over the years, experts have been telling us that there is a link between oral health and our overall wellness. When our mouths are healthy, our overall health looks good, too. Conversely, suffering from oral health issues - gum disease, for example - makes us likely to suffer a heart attack or a stroke.

The primary reason we should visit our dentist every six months - whether we’re having dental or oral problems or not - is to get our oral health checked. We know the importance of good oral health, and the dental professionals we trust are the most qualified to check if our mouths are healthy or not. Then again, if your next visit is still a month or so away, you can evaluate your oral health with the help of this simple checklist:

Are Your Teeth Naturally White?

Considering the things we eat and drink, it’s no surprise that our teeth become stained. It’s always best to just stay away from teeth-staining foods and drinks, but if your teeth remain naturally white anyway, then that means you’re taking care of them properly.

Do Your Gums Bleed When Brushing Or Flossing?

When you’re brushing or flossing, and there’s no bleeding, your gums are fine. If there’s even a hint of red on your sink or the used floss, you may have gingivitis. Bleeding is one of the symptoms of gingivitis, a common and mild form of gum disease.

Poor oral hygiene is the primary cause of gingivitis, which, thankfully, can still be reversed. Brushing at least twice a day, daily flossing, regular visits to the dentist, and other good oral health habits should do the trick.

Are Your Gums Pink and Firm?

Gums that look pink are firm to the touch are yet another sign of good oral health. So, get a mirror and check how pink your gums are. You should also touch the inside of your mouth using clean fingers and feel their firmness.

However, if they look reddish, swollen, and feel tender to the touch, you are at risk of gum disease. Improve your oral health habits to prevent your gum problems from getting worse. If you have pale gums, you might want to visit a doctor and get yourself checked for anemia.

Is Your Tongue Clean And Pink?

A healthy-looking tongue is one that’s pink, clean, smooth, and flat. If those characteristics don’t describe your tongue, then your oral health practices may be lacking or questionable. Poor oral hygiene causes a significant change in your tongue’s color. For a healthier tongue, make using a tongue scraper part of your daily oral care routine. Then again, a discolored tongue may also be a sign of nutritional deficiencies, or more serious medical conditions like anemia, diabetes, or cancer.

How Does Your Breath Smell?

Your breath doesn’t have to smell minty or anything fragrant to be considered fresh. You have a healthy mouth if your breath has a naturally neutral smell. A neutral-smelling breath is a clear indication that you practice proper oral hygiene. You brush, floss, scrape, and rinse your mouth regularly, effectively getting rid of the bad breath-causing food particles and bacteria in your mouth.

However, if you have good oral habits and you still have bad breath, you might be suffering from throat and gastro-intestinal issues. Visit your physician for a checkup if this is the case.

How Sensitive Are Your Teeth?

When you feel a twinge of pain in your teeth when you drink something hot or cold, the enamel that serves as their outer covering and protection may be already deteriorating. Enamel erosion happens typically due to wear and tear, stress, corrosion, and friction. Drinking soft drinks and a diet high in sugar and starches also wears the enamel on our teeth. 

Proper oral hygiene helps protect enamel. However, it would help if you did other things like minimizing the intake of acidic foods and using straws to keep soda and fruit juices from making contact with your teeth. That way, you can lower your risk for enamel erosion.

The status of your oral health depends on your answers to the above questions. So, go through them, and find out how you’re doing on the oral health front.

Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Amanda McIntyre is a Content Marketing Strategist for Dental Studio 101, a Scottsdale cosmetic dentistry clinic that specializes in providing anxiety-free dental services, including dental implants, cosmetic fillings and porcelain veneers. She enjoys reading books and being around family and friends.

Reviewed By:    

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.