A good smile is worth preserving.
Let me tell you a little story: once, when I was in college, I was brushing my teeth one morning, and noticed a black spot on one of my molars. “That’s strange,” I thought. “Maybe it’s some kinda stain from a chocolate bar or something? Well, I’m sure it’ll go away eventually.” Guess what? It wasn’t chocolate stain, it was a cavity. A massive, nearly-necrotic cavity that necessitated a root canal, followed by a crown several years later. It was a very stressful, very unpleasant thing to deal with, and if I could give my younger self a single piece of advice, it’d be to practice better dental health.
You never really realize how important your teeth are to your daily life until your use of them has been impaired somehow. Ice water, for instance, goes from a cool, refreshing pick-me-up in the summer to potential liquid agony when it comes in contact with a severe-enough cavity. Living with something like that is not only physically unpleasant, to say the least, it’s also a major downer.
Speaking as someone who has had to live with consistent teeth pain, putting up with that stuff can really ruin your mood. You know how frustrating it is to crave something cold, but you can’t because of the pain you’ll incur? Or even just the regular pain you have to endure while drinking something or rinsing out your mouth? This little frustrations can wear you down over time and completely wreck any good vibes you may have had.
So before things get that bad, make sure to take proper care of your teeth. Brush twice a day with a soft toothbrush, being careful not to brush too hard lest you irritate your gums. You should also floss twice a day to keep your gums healthy and resilient. Finally, some mouthwash before bed wouldn’t go amiss either, just to give you that extra layer of protection. You’ll be glad you did when your dental checkups don’t end in a mouth full of porcelain.
