You might not think about your jawbone often, but it’s vital to your overall health. Keeping your jawbone healthy is essential for maintaining good oral health, preventing tooth loss, and ensuring that your teeth remain correctly aligned. Here are some tips for keeping your jawbone healthy.
Eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
A calcium and Vitamin D diet is essential for maintaining healthy jawbones. Calcium, the most abundant mineral in the body, counts for approximately two percent of a human’s total body weight and plays a significant role in bone strength. Foods high in calcium include dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, certain seafood like fish with bones, nuts and seeds, beans, and soy products.
Vitamin D also helps your body absorb calcium from foods while increasing bone density. Naturally occurring sources of Vitamin D include fortified milk, egg yolks, sunlight, and supplements. Eating sufficient nutrients is essential to keep your jawbone strong and prevent dental complications such as tooth decay or gum disease.
Do not smoke
Smoking is one of the most common and preventable health risks. Besides having harmful consequences for your heart, lungs, immune system, and digestive system, smoking can also have severe adverse effects on your jawbone. Those who smoke will be more likely to experience loss of bone density along with other damaging side effects such as narrow jawlines and lower facial structure.
Not only can this lead to cosmetic issues, but it can also lead to periodontal diseases caused by bacteria that thrive in an unhealthy mouth. Therefore, taking care to avoid smoking is a necessary step in maintaining a healthy jawbone and overall oral health.
Get regular dental checkups and cleanings
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums isn’t just about keeping your smile looking great – it’s also essential for maintaining the health of your jawbone. Regular checkups and cleanings with a dentist can help ensure that your jawbone is correctly cared for; the cleaner, more robust teeth are better supported by a stronger, denser jawbone, resulting in enhanced general oral health.
Seeing a dentist regularly (e.g., every six months) provides an opportunity to catch and address any issues before they become more severe and gives you a chance to get proactive about taking care of your teeth and gums, which in turn helps keep your jawbone healthy. They can also inform you early on if you need dental implants to replace missing teeth to preserve your jawbone and maintain good oral health.
Brush and floss your teeth daily
Taking care of your teeth is essential for good overall health, especially when taking care of your jawbone. Brushing and flossing help remove plaque and food particles that lead to cavities and gum disease. In addition, regular brushing keeps your jawbone healthy by stimulating the gums and cleaning off bacteria that can cause tooth decay.
Flossing allows you to reach between the teeth, removes buildup, and encourages correct jaw positioning. To ensure you’re taking care of your jawbone, try using an extra-soft toothbrush and a fluoride-based toothpaste so you’re getting more of a deep clean for your teeth and gums. Taking time every day to brush and floss your teeth can keep your mouth clean and healthy, ultimately preserving the strength of your jawbone over time.
Exercise regularly
Exercising your jaw is an essential factor in maintaining jawbone health. Regularly exercising these muscles can prevent stiffness in the jaw and retain its flexibility. In particular, it is recommended that you focus on exercises that move the lower jaw forward, as this can reduce symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and discomfort.
Such exercises include widely opening and closing your mouth, clenching your teeth, pushing your tongue against the roof of your mouth, and gently massaging the area around the TMJ. When done consistently and correctly, they can help improve a person’s ability to open their mouth widely, keep facial pain at bay, relax any tightness in the neck or shoulder area caused by TMJ discomfort, and sustain overall dental health and well-being.
See your doctor if you have any concerns about your jawbone health
Taking good care of your jawbone is crucial as it affects the shape of your entire face and the stability of your teeth. It plays a significant role in keeping up with good oral health and ensures you can chew, talk, and smile confidently. Even if you have no symptoms, it’s best to see your doctor if you have any concerns about your jawbone health since early detection can prevent possible more significant problems.
Keeping your jawbone healthy is essential for maintaining a healthy and beautiful smile. By following the tips above, you can help to keep your jawbone healthy and prevent problems in the future. Remember to see your dentist regularly, eat a calcium-rich diet, exercise frequently, and don’t smoke cigarettes. If you have any concerns about your jawbone health, talk to your doctor.
