7 Tips to Maintain Good Oral Health
“Eat An Apple a Day to keep Doctor Away, And Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day to keep Dentist Away” Good oral hygiene is necessary to keep teeth and gums healthy. You should take care of your teeth to prevent other health issues because dental health influences your entire health as well. What oral hygiene procedures though, should you adhere to for excellence? Here are seven suggestions for maintaining your teeth.
1. Brush your Teeth Twice a Day
The majority of people are aware that one of the most crucial habits for removing plaque and bacteria and maintaining clean teeth is brushing twice a day “your mouth is home to 300 types of bacteria”.
However, brushing might only be efficient if people use the correct method. Brushing should be done gently in small circular strokes, being sure to consider the front, back, and top of each tooth you can split your mouth into quadrants and focus on one section at a time, it takes 2 to 3 minutes to complete this procedure. People should avoid sawing back-and-forth motion. ‘A morning brush fights morning breath’.
Too much pressure during brushing or using a toothbrush with a tough bristle can harm the gums and tooth enamel. This may lead to gum erosion, dental discomfort, and long-term harm to the protective enamel of teeth.
The American Dental Association (ADA) advises using a toothbrush with soft bristles and using fluoride toothpaste twice a day. They also advise changing a person’s toothbrush every three months or, whichever comes first, when the ends begin to look frayed. Don’t go to bed without brushing your teeth.
2. Make Sure You Floss Every Day
It’s important to floss every day in addition to brushing twice a day. Your toothbrush cannot reach certain sections of your mouth. In order to get rid of plaque and concealed food, flossing is essential Plaque is the enemy. A crusty deposit that traps stains on the teeth and causes discoloration might form if these areas are neglected. The build-up of calculus commonly referred to as tartar can make it more challenging to get rid of fresh bacteria and plaque.
The American Dental Association recommends cleaning between your teeth daily with an interdental cleaner (like floss) stick to using tools designed for cleaning between teeth like dental picks, string floss, tiny brushes that reach between the teeth, and water flossers.
3. Add a Mouthwash to Your Routine
It’s a good idea to include mouthwash in your dental routine, swishing mouthwash around cleans regions that are difficult to brush. Additionally, they neutralise or lessen the acidity of saliva. When your mouth is highly acidic, mouthwash will raise the pH of your saliva and prevent enamel degradation.
Moreover, because most mouthwashes have antibacterial qualities, they aid in removing plaque.
After brushing, and flossing, following up with mouthwash helps to eliminate the presence of bacteria in your mouth. Using a non-alcohol mouthwash regularly helps to prevent gum disease, reduce tartar, and plaque and rinse away food particles.
4. Use a Fluoride Toothpaste
There are more factors to consider in toothpaste than whitening ability and flavor. Make sure it contains fluoride regardless of which version you select. Due to fluoride’s well-known ability to remineralize teeth, the enamel will be strengthened. Additionally, fluoride in tiny doses helps prevent cavities. You should therefore buy fluoridated goods, including toothpaste and mouthwash.
The majority of people favor sweet-flavored toothpaste and hardly ever consider the ingredients list. Make sure all of the oral products you use contain fluoride to avoid making this error.
5. Stay away from Sugary and Acidic foods
We frequently grab comfort foods during stressful times, which are typically high in sugar and carbs. Even though they may have a delicious flavour, these foods are very important in the formation of cavities. Because they linger in the mouth for a longer period of time, sugar and carbohydrates are good sources of food for the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Try exploring some new dishes that include Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables at this time rather than reaching for sweets and other unhealthy foods. Instead of indulging in comfort foods, eating healthfully will help you feel better and reduce stress.
More importantly, eating sugary foods in small amounts on a regular basis can do more harm than eating the occasional sugar-laden dessert.
Diet soda also damages teeth, not just regular soda. Soda’s acid erodes teeth. Once acid has destroyed the enamel, it continues to corrode the inner structure of the tooth, produce cavities, and leave stains on the tooth’s surface. Limit soft drinks and take proper care of your teeth to prevent tooth decay triggered on by drinking.
6. Avoid Smoking, Chewing Tobacco, & Alcohol
One of the habits that are most harmful to your dental health is smoking. Smoking causes oral cancer, gum disease, tooth loss, plaque and tartar build-up, and tooth discoloration. Furthermore, it hinders your mouth’s capacity to recover from injuries.
Alcohol abuse can have a similar negative impact on your oral health as smoking does. Alcohol dries out your mouth, causing less saliva to be produced, which encourages plaque and bacteria growth. Since alcohol contains a lot of sugar and acid, it causes tooth decay and eventually tooth loss. Alcohol frequent drinkers have a higher risk of mouth cancer than non-drinkers do.
7. Regular Dental Check-Ups
Your general dental health is greatly influenced by your daily routine. Even the most diligent brushers and flossers should visit the dentist on a regular basis. You should visit the dentist at least twice a year for cleanings and check-ups.
We recommend you have a teeth cleaning and oral examination every 6 months to protect your oral health.
Don’t wait until you have a toothache to attend the dentist. Establish a schedule for your dental care and visit your dentist. You can have your teeth professionally cleaned during the visit. A dentist can check for cavities, remove calculus, and recommend treatments in addition to identifying current problems, Gingivitis and gum disease can be effectively prevented with routine professional cleaning.
Additionally, the dentist will remove any accumulated plaque using specialized tools, ensuring that no bacteria are left behind, planning regular dental check-ups can prevent the need for dental treatments.