Beginning and maintaining good dental health habits are important for everyone, but this is especially true for those in addiction recovery. Not only does dental health contribute to overall health, but it also helps to repair possible past dental neglect. Dental neglect is an extremely common occurrence among recovering addicts. However, recovering alcoholics and meth users often see more dental damages than others due to these substances’ corrosive nature on teeth. Here are the 5 top reasons to see the dentist after getting sober.
- Repairing Previous Dental Neglect
It is not uncommon for recovering addicts to discover that they have neglected multiple areas of their health during their addiction. Unfortunately, dental health is no exception. Although recovering alcoholics and meth addicts may see more extreme cases of poor dental health, this problem can affect anyone who has neglected to take care of their teeth. It is recommended that everyone brush and floss their teeth twice daily, and if this does not happen over an extended period of time then you will likely see the consequences.
- Cavities
Cavities are a very common consequence of neglecting to follow through on good dental hygiene on a regular basis. Unfortunately, having one or more cavities is not a pleasant experience, and it is often painful. For this reason, getting these filled early into an Austin sober living home will likely make this process a little bit easier. Addiction recovery can be difficult enough, and you do not need tooth pain to make you feel worse. You can get your cavities filled at any dentist.
- Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is another unfortunate consequence of neglecting and abusing dental health. This diagnosis is much more extreme and typically more rare than cavities, but this does not mean that they are obsolete among recovering addicts. Leaving decaying teeth untreated can have some serious damaging effects on overall health. Therefore it is crucial that this gets treated by a qualified dentist as soon as possible.
- Other Dental Health Concerns
Gum disease, ulcers, sores, and the loss of blood flow to roots and gums are all relevant dental health concerns that could arise as a result of an alcohol or drug addiction. For this reason, it is still important to visit a dentist during or soon after alcohol or drug rehab. “Not only will this ensure that no ailments progress and get worse, but it will also save you a lot of unnecessary pain during an already trying time”, says Mat Gorman, CEO at Nova Recovery Center.
- Dental Care is Important for Overall Health
Going to the dentist at least yearly for a cleaning is important to maintain good dental health for everyone. This is especially true if you are showing signs of any dental health concerns such as cavities, gum disease, or tooth decay. Going to a dentist is the only way that you can ensure your dental health. After all, the whole point of a San Antonio drug detox is to become sober and get onto the path of a healthy sober life. Creating good habits such as going to the dentist can help to get you started on a healthy sober life. In addition to this, they will be able to provide helpful tips on how you can improve and maintain good dental hygiene at home!
Some Helpful Tips
It is normal to feel nervous before, and even during, a trip to the dentist. However, this does not mean that you should skip your dentist appointments. Here are some helpful tips to get you through your visit.
–Make Sure You are Comfortable: The first and most important tip is making sure that you feel comfortable and safe. If you don’t feel this way with a dentist then it is completely okay to switch to somebody else.
-Bring Someone Along: Sometimes it helps to have someone else with you during stressful situations. Having a trusted friend or family member will not only be likely to put you at ease, but it will also make you more prone to completing your dentist visit without a premature walkout.
-Do Breathing Exercises: Breathing exercises are a great way to manage stress anywhere. Whether you do it in the waiting room, the dentist chair, or both this trick can do wonders for calming an anxious mind.
-Ask Questions: Asking questions while visiting the dentist are important for a couple of reasons. The first benefit of asking questions is that you fully understand what is going on and what your treatment is. In addition to this, having a full understanding of your situation will likely calm your nerves.
Conclusion
Going to the dentist is extremely important to maintain overall health, especially for recovering addicts. This is because dental problems like cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental ailments are much more likely for those who have had an alcohol or drug addiction. The only way to repair dental damage is to go to a dentist and follow their treatment plan.
