Top 5 Reasons to Take Care of Your Teeth

April 11, 2025 – Excellent oral health doesn’t just help you create a bright and happy smile – it can also guard against oral health issues, such as gum disease and tooth decay, minimizing complex and costly fixes down the road. It can also help strengthen your overall well-being by warding off health issues.

This article will help cover some of the top reasons to take care of your teeth, showing you just how crucial a healthy mouth and dental insurance are.

1. Better Oral Health

Following a consistent oral health routine can be one of the greatest ways to help protect your oral health. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing can help remove plaque from your mouth, keeping your teeth clean and bright white.

That said, it is typically common for most people to miss harder-to-reach areas in their mouth. Usually, nothing is wrong with this since you can’t easily see into your mouth. That’s why regular dental checkups should also play a role in your routine. The dentist or hygienist can find any debris you may have missed and identify issues early. Plus, they can help offer tips on improving your at-home routine.

2. Save Money by Avoiding Costly Fixes

Good oral hygiene habits can help save you money in the long run by minimizing the chance you need dental treatments. Even basic procedures can cost you hundreds for one procedure.

Now, if you are only diligent about your semi-annual dental visits and never have any issues, you may wonder, “Is dental insurance worth it?” since routine care can cost a few hundred dollars per year. Some plans may cost more in premiums than the potential savings offered.

However, you can’t predict the future. Even if you have good oral health, issues may develop between dental appointments, such as damage to the teeth.

This can make dental insurance a key piece of your oral health. Dental insurance helps you prepare in case something unexpected happens and can help cover the procedure before the problem turns into a more costly and complex issue.

3. Make Eating and Speaking Easier

Typically, healthy teeth are crucial to chewing food and speaking properly. Damaged or missing teeth can make eating more difficult and can increase sensitivity, making hot and cold foods uncomfortable to eat. Gum disease can increase gum sensitivity, making some foods more uncomfortable to eat.

Missing teeth can make it harder to form specific sounds when speaking. Unaddressed tooth gaps can lead to shifting teeth and even jawbone loss, dramatically impacting speech.

A good oral health routine and regular dental visits can help reduce the chance of these issues developing and resolve any problems early.

4. Protect Your Overall Health

Oral health can impact your overall health in a few ways. For example, if you have an untreated tooth pulp infection, the bacteria can spread to other areas of your face and neck. This can cause serious health issues.

Beyond that, there is some connection between what foods and activities can be good for your oral and overall health. For instance, sugary foods, which can be bad for your overall health in excess, can increase plaque buildup on your teeth, potentially causing tooth decay.

Similarly, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to various health problems while staining your teeth and increasing the risk of tooth decay. Smoking also, may increase the risk of various oral and overall health problems.

5. Enhance Your Appearance and Confidence

Maintaining good oral health doesn’t just guard against issues. Cleaning your teeth can help reduce discoloration and keep them shiny and white.

Furthermore, caring for your oral health can help reduce the chance of your teeth getting cavities or suffering other damage. Proper care can also help maintain the shape of your teeth and prevents them from shifting and getting crooked.

Many Reasons to Care for Your Teeth

Good oral health can help your smile look great, contribute to your overall well-being and quality of life, while helping protect you from costly fixes in the future.

Brushing, flossing, and rinsing can be the cornerstones to helping maintain excellent oral health. However, visit your dentist regularly to help ensure your oral health is in good shape and catch any issues early.

A routine including each of these steps can help you maintain a healthy and happy smile.

Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.

Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.

In Delaware,  Policies A82100R-A82400R. In Idaho,  Policies A82100RID-A82400RID. In Oklahoma, Policies A82100ROK-A82400ROK. In Virginia,  Policies, A82100RVVA-A82400RVA.

Coverage underwritten by Tier One Insurance Company. Tier One Insurance Company is part of the Aflac family of insurers. In California, Tier One Insurance does business as Tier One Insurance Life Insurance Company (Tier One NAIC 92908).

Dental, Vision and Hearing: In Delaware, Policy T80000. In Idaho, Policy T80000ID. In Oklahoma, Policy T80000OK. NOTICE: The coverage offered is not a qualified health plan (QHP) under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and is not required to satisfy essential health benefits mandates of the ACA. The coverage provides limited benefits.

Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to NJ, NM, NY, VA or VT. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on state and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations and exclusions.

Aflac WWHQ | Tier One Insurance Company | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

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Senior PR & Corporate Communications
Contact: Angie Blackmar, 706-392-2097 or [email protected]