The dentists got it right -- an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Dentists don’t sit back and wait until a patient needs a root canal before they take action. Instead, they continually monitor, preventatively treat, and educate their patients on ways to take care of their teeth. What would happen if we took the same approach to caring for our spines and backs? It’s surprising more people don’t pose this question, considering how important our backs and spines are to our overall health! The truth is, if more people treated their back like they did their teeth, they’d feel a lot better and be a whole lot healthier.

Setting the stage for preventative care

Americans have some of the best oral health in the world -- and this didn’t happen overnight or by chance. The American Dental Association (ADA) is unified in their beliefs and standards of care for a patient’s teeth at any age. Because of this unity, a strong message is conveyed: See your dentist for regular check-ups so you don’t have to see him for something serious! Regular checkups are done that include x-rays to make sure cavities aren’t developing, dental cleanings to make sure that there is not too much tartar buildup, and assessments to make sure that a patient’s mouth and teeth are looking generally straight and healthy. Numerous products and regimens were woven into our society’s beliefs until they became the norm. In fact, dental care is so well engrained in our day-to-day life that most of us floss and brush at least twice a day. At home dental care combined with regular in-office checkups and preventative treatments is an example of an ideal system of prevention.

A strong foundation

People of all ages go to the dentist, floss, and brush. Teeth’s importance doesn’t diminish as we age -- we should always take care of them. Just like our teeth affect our jaws, skulls, sinuses, nutrition, and even our hearts, our backs and spines are related to so much more than our posture or back aches. The back and spine not only help to keep the body in an upright position, they protect the nervous system. The nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord, controlling every single action in the entire body -- from breathing to walking. Exiting from the spinal cord and spine are an intricate web of nerves that feed into all of the muscles and organs. Interference with any these nerves can lead to a myriad of symptoms, not limited to the classic "back pain".

By utilizing the dental approach in regards to the spine and back, people would get regular spine and back check-ups by a chiropractor, physical therapist, or orthopedist. These professionals would evaluate the functional level of the spine through a thorough check-up and then provide preventative treatments. In addition, instructions for at-home stretches and exercises would be provided, ensuring that in just minutes a day a patient could prevent or minimize back and spine troubles.

Page 1 of 2 :: First | Last :: Prev | 1 2 | Next