Your personality is reflected on your face. While your eyes speak volumes about you, your mouth serves many functions like smiling, chewing, and speaking. It is a well-known fact that dental health is directly related to your overall body health. Your oral health can also affect your self-confidence such as yellow and uneven teeth, halitosis, gum infection and other dental problems. Hence, maintaining good dental hygiene is extremely important.
Check out the 10 useful tips that will help you take care of your pearly whites.
Brush twice a day
The main contributing factors responsible for causing dental problems are food particles, dental plaque, and calculus. Plaque is a thin film that sticks to the teeth and gums which eventually forms tartar and leads to gum infections, dental cavities, and other oral diseases. Brushing your teeth helps to remove food particles and prevents the formation of dental plaque. In addition, toothpaste fights against bad breath and gives a feeling of freshness.
While it is ideal to brush your teeth after every meal, it is recommended to brush your teeth at least twice a day. We all brush in the mornings. However, it is extremely important to brush at night because the mouth remains closed for a long period during the night which can result in bacteria multiplying in such environment. Hence, it is extremely important to brush before you sleep.
Floss daily
Flossing is as important as brushing. When we are busy, we forget to floss our teeth. Floss removes the food particles that are lodged between teeth which a toothbrush cannot reach or remove. Food lodged between your teeth can cause cavities, swelling of the gums and other oral problems.
You can use a floss thread or a floss stick. Since brushing cannot effectively clean tight spaces, flossing is critical to maintain great dental hygiene.
Visit your dentist at least once every six months
It is recommended that you visit your dentist or at least schedule a dental check-ups once every six months. Regular dental check-ups help to identify dental problems at an early stage, thereby helping in early intervention of the disease. In the long run, it pays to maintain a regular appointment with your dentist to prevent costly repairs. Click here to book an appointment.
Avoid habits that are harmful to your teeth
Avoid tobacco and other chewing substances that are harmful to teeth. It is advisable to limit snacking between meals and reduce the intake of sugary foods or drinks. It is particularly important to avoid subjecting your teeth to stress such as biting your fingernails or opening bottle caps. For habits that are hard to break such as thumb sucking, lip-biting, tongue-thrusting, or teeth clenching, consult a dentist for appropriate treatment.
Eat healthy
It is important to choose foods which are beneficial to your dental health. Practice a balanced diet to consume vitamins and minerals in the correct amount. Malformed teeth and bleeding gums are usually a result of nutritional deficiencies.
It is equally important to take the right amount of fluoride ion. Fluoride is important for the remineralisation of enamel caries and is a structural component of teeth. However, fluoride in excess amount can be harmful to teeth and cause toxic effects on your body. Discuss the correct fluoride dosage with your dentist.
Avoid consuming acidic drinks or citrus fruits in excess as it can wear off the tooth enamel.
Plan your children’s dental health from an early age
Baby teeth are as important as adult teeth. While they are temporary, they still serve major functions in the early stage of a child’s life. The teeth in children play a key role in guiding the adult dentition in its proper place. Taking your children to regular check-ups serve to imprint the importance of dental health in them and shape their dental hygiene during their adult years.
Do not delay dental treatments
Many people procrastinate dental treatments due to a variety of reasons such as anxiety, cost, etc. However, preventative check-ups and treatments do not cost much when compared to extensive care like dental crowns, implants, and others. Talk to your dentist when they recommend a dental treatment on the benefits of early repairs. Delays in dental treatment can negatively impact your dental hygiene and end up costing much more in the long run.
Fillings do work
Dental cavities can be prevented if diagnosed at an early stage. If preventive steps like fluoride application and fillings are done, then it becomes easy to clean the teeth and maintain a good oral hygiene.
Protect your mouth while playing sports
Trauma or accidents on the sports field can cause tooth fracture and even tooth loss. It is important to wear a well-fitting mouthguard to protect your teeth. In contact sports or where there is a chance of your head getting hit by a ball, wearing a helmet protects it as well as the oral cavity from force-impacts.
Use correct tools for cleaning your teeth and gums
If you have bleeding gums, you should always use a soft toothbrush. If you have wires and braces, you should use a prescribed orthodontic toothbrush and mouthwash. Dental hygiene in dental implant patients also require special steps.
Electric toothbrushes are great since they clean better than manual toothbrushes. However, all toothbrushes should be ideally changed every three months. An even and light pressure is required during brushing to avoid harming the teeth enamel with excessive force.
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