May is National Family Wellness Month, and now is the perfect time to remember the importance of good oral health habits. Your Mcallen dentists here at Heroes Dental want to remind you that your oral health is a window to your overall health.
According to the Mayo Clinic, oral bacteria and inflammation associated with periodontitis have potential links to a variety of diseases and unhealthy conditions including:
- Endocarditis.
- Cardiovascular disease.
- Issues with pregnancy and birth.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Head and neck cancers.
Healthy oral care habits, lifestyle choices, and routine family visits to the dentist are crucial to your overall well-being and can positively impact your children for the better, encouraging them to live a better, healthier life together with you. And it doesn’t have to be a tough process. There are plenty of small – yet meaningful – actions that you can take on a daily basis to make your smiles gorgeous and your hearts healthy.
Celebrate #NationalFamilyWellness month this #May with #HeroesDental #Smile #Health Click To TweetOral Care Tips to Celebrate Family Wellness Month
Tooth decay and cavities are easy to prevent with a few basic tips that are easy to commit to:
- Start early with baby.
- Cut back on sweets and sugars…
- …And start eating healthier.
- Don’t forget the basics: brushing and flossing.
- Visit your family dentist at Heroes Dental.
Healthy habits start in infancy and parents can make sure their children develop these good oral care routines by taking baby to the dentist as soon as the first tooth appears. Baby teeth play an important role in the development of a child, and taking care of them is just as important as taking care of permanent teeth.
It is recommended that the first trip to the dentist should take place within six months after the first tooth appears but no later than the first birthday.
We’re pretty sure you’re probably tired of hearing this one, but its the truth. It is important – not only for your overall health but your oral health as well – to limit the number of snacks that you eat. The sugars in sweets, soft drinks, and juices cause acid and harmful bacteria to attack your teeth.
While it’s not always easy to give up on those tasty treats, ditching them is important to prevent tooth decay, and you don’t want your little ones dealing with the consequences of having too much candy.
On the other hand, while you’ll want to limit you sugary foods and drinks, you’ll want to eat a balanced diet of healthy foods including fruits, vegetables, healthy proteins, cheese, yogurt, and whole grains. You’ll also want to make sure everyone in your family is drinking plenty of water.
Meal times are also the perfect opportunity to create an environment of family wellness. Making meals together, and of course, eating together, can help improve the emotional well-being of everyone in your family, and if you do decide to have an after-dinner snack, eating one after the meal causes less harm as more saliva is being released, which helps to neutralize acids in the mouth.
Your #DentalHealth says a lot about your overall health. Take care of your teeth. #OnlyOnesYouGot Click To TweetThese two actions are absolutely essential to maintaining a beautiful and healthy smile. If you’re a parent, you can be the perfect example by brushing your teeth with your little ones. You can even make it a fun activity by using music, Tooth Tunes, dancing, or using a timer to add some action to brushing. It is recommended that individuals brush their teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time.
But brushing isn’t the only action you’ll want to take. Flossing is just as important to getting in all the nooks and crannies around your teeth and under your gums. You’ll want to floss daily to help prevent tooth decay and disease. Help your little heroes with this step if they aren’t able to do it alone.
Last, but certainly not least, you’ll want to schedule routine dental visits with your family dentist here at Heroes Dental. Make it a family outing and bring your children so they can see that you are dedicated to your oral health as well.
Visiting your dentist regularly will help to prevent any major problems from occurring, and help to catch any issues early on.
A Few Activities to Enjoy with the Family
Oral health care is just one part of Family Wellness Month. If you really want to begin transforming your family’s physical and emotional health, there are plenty of fun and engaging activities that you can do including:
- Having a picnic at a new park all throughout the month. This is the perfect excuse to explore new areas in your city and enjoy the breezy spring weather. Young children are sure to love this one.
- Take a hike at one of the local outdoor centers. The World Birding Center and Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park are great destinations near McAllen.
- Get fit as a family! Playing sports together or going out for bike rides are wonderful ways to be active.
- Weather can get a bit hot here in the Rio Grande Valley; so when you’re looking for something fun to do with the family that doesn’t require you being outdoors, consider a family game night. Board games and card games are loads of fun.
Eating healthy and leading active lives benefits everyone in your family. Build healthy habits with your children to give them a lifetime of good health.
Celebrate Family Wellness Month with a visit to our family dentists at Heroes Dental, here in the Rio Grande Valley.
A beautiful smile can mean so much to your health. At Heroes Dental we are dedicated to making your smile a memorable one.
Request an appointment today at any of our conveniently located Heroes Dental offices today in Laredo, Mission, San Juan, and now in Pharr and Edinburg.
We are a team truly devoted to spreading happiness, one gorgeous, pearly white smile at a time.