When you think of the dentist, you think about getting a check-up and clean or, on a tough day, a root canal. But did you know dentistry is more than filling and drilling? A trip to the dentist can tell you a lot more about your overall health than you think.
According to leading aesthetic and regenerative dentist Dr Fadi Yassmin, “Dentistry is about more than creating the perfect smile; smile architecture and oral wellness are intertwined. Whole-body wellness starts with the mouth. Being disease-free starts with healthy gums and teeth.”
Keeping your teeth and gums free of nasty bacteria and inflammation prevents chronic disease and supports healthy ageing. Signs of poor oral health include tooth decay, red, puffy gums that bleed when you brush and bad breath.
Poor oral health is commonly known to lead to tooth loss, making chewing and swallowing difficult and contributing to poor nutrition. However, according to the Oral Health and Dental Care in Australia Report (2021), the bacteria behind poor oral health can affect the health of your heart and lungs, contribute to diabetes and increase your risk of stroke. The report also highlights that by their fifties, the average Australian has ten decayed, missing or filled teeth; losing teeth and signs of poor oral hygiene, such as bad breath, can impact a person’s confidence and self-esteem.
What causes poor oral health?
Lifestyle factors can contribute to poor oral health, including consuming sugar, tobacco and alcohol, not brushing and flossing regularly and missing your dental check-ups.
How do I look after my teeth and gums and my oral health?
Eating a healthy balanced diet, brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste and flossing daily help keep your teeth and gums healthy. “Committing to oral hygiene is the first step to oral wellness,” says Yassmin. “This is the starting point to turn around a patient’s health and it is the best approach.”
Don’t forget regular check-ups with your dentist to help you stay ahead of any problems. If you haven’t been to a dentist in a while, you may be surprised by new technological innovations.
“The game-changer for me in my clinic is supporting my longevity dentistry approach with diagnostics and digital tools,” says Yassmin. “Keeping up to date with the latest technology allows me to provide the best results. Having a good understanding of dentistry and best in class technology such as artificial intelligence for digital dentistry and diagnostic radiology helps me improve the oral wellness of my patients. We are continuously scoping the industry for the newest technology to support us in our work at FY Smile, but we realise that good oral health and wellness starts by doing the basics right first.”
Keeping your teeth and gums healthy through regular brushing, flossing and eating well will help you and your dentist not only look after your smile but take care of the rest of your body as well.
For more information visit www.fysmile.com.au
About Dr Fadi Yassmin
Dr Fadi Yassmin graduated from Sydney University in 1993 and has since then developed a reputation of one of the leading dental implant and cosmetic practitioners in Sydney. With a Masters in Aesthetic Dentistry from Kings College London, is a Master Clinician in Implantology (gIDE UCLA) and a post-graduate diploma in orthodontics from the city of London Dental School, Dr Yassmin ensures that he keeps up to date with all current treatment techniques and that he and his staff are committed to serving the needs of their patients. He is a Digital Smile Design instructor and KOL in the aesthetic space due to his profound knowledge of multi-disciplinary treatments.