With any given health issue, we cannot hope to change heredity. My father and his father had heart disease. I can only control other factors to mitigate my chances. In Australia, we have a significant oral health problem.
The cost of dental visits deters 33% of us from regular appointments. Of our children under 10 years of age, 40% have untreated decay. Those of us between 15 and 34 are missing more than three teeth, and those over 70 are missing an average of 13 teeth due to decay and gum disease.
Similar to my family’s heart issue, some dental problems can be predicated through heredity, but we can mitigate them also. Supernumerary (extra) teeth, crooked teeth, malocclusions, periodontal disease, and some oral cancers are traced to heredity.
What can we do to fight all of that? Get your backside in the comfy chair of your local family dentist in Wagga for a cleaning and check-up. They will give you a full assessment and prioritized recommendations. I have some bad dental heredity, but if I have one tooth left, I can make it shine.
Be proud of your smile and share it often. When we have stained teeth, we can protect them by not smiling and this will reduce our confidence. Decay and gum issues will emit terrible odors causing people to pull away from conversations and prevent comfort in intimate moments. Get your chompers fixed.
We all have our insecurities and they can be surpassed with self-love and understanding. Dental issues of dry mouth or poor appearance are nothing compared to heart disease, a spectrum of digestive issues, cancers, pregnancy and birth complications, and low birth weight, which can all be caused by poor oral health.
The affordable housing, booming centre, job market, and family-friendly environment of Wagga make it a great place to live. The easy access to nature that surrounds us feeds an innate evolutional need for communing with the wild. You can keep the big cities.
Eligible Victorians are granted access to public dental care services. Voucher schemes like the Victorian Emergency/General/Denture Schemes from approved dentists or the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) can grant access to care based on need and priority level.
All children under 12 years are eligible. Children of Healthcare or Pensioner Concession Cards have other benefits for dental care. Children in foster or kinship care are provided care through the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH). Torres Strait Islanders, Aboriginals, all refugees, and asylum seekers are eligible for public dental care as well.
Two dental cleaning and inspections per year will cost $1000+. The repairs to damage or decay are more costly in pain and cabbage. Prevention will only help your wallet. Brush, floss, rinse, and repeat multiple times a day. Limit the food and drink that stain your teeth. Switch to green or black tea for more fluoride to repair enamel. Eat raw, fresh, firm vegetables to clean while you eat.
