Let's Get Motivated!

By: Dentist Dr. Elizabeth Dunkleberger

   A lifetime of excellent oral and dental health is within the reach of most of us, even if we've had some history of neglecting our teeth. And perhaps the first and most important step we can take is to set realistic routines for at-home care of our oral health.
   For a good home care program to work we need to find ways to motivate ourselves to make certain we follow through. Certainly, understanding some of the consequences of oral health neglect can have a galvanizing effect. For example, research suggests the gum disease, which affects roughly three our to four adults, may be associated with increased health risks. Long term and short term studies have make associations between gum disease and stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis, just for starters. And knowing that paying just minutes of attention a day- brushing twice, and flossing once-will help you keep your own teeth all your life is a powerful incentive.
   Healthy lifestyle choices can also be inspiring: exercise, good nutrition, and moderate alcohol intake are all important parts of our overall and oral health. Still, there really is no substitute for a strict smile regimen of cleaning, flossing, and rinsing, along with a program of regular dental checkups.

Dentist
Highlands Ranch
80126