Here are some of our tips for a strong dental routine.
Basic oral hygiene and good dental care goes hand in hand with sparkling smiles. If you want to keep toothaches at bay and maintain healthy teeth for life, here is a look on how you can achieve this.
A wise man once said, “The key to good health and life, is by taking care or your teeth.” Your teeth are the gateway of your internal body, and its wellbeing is eminent for avoiding future medical problems. Poor oral hygiene of your mouth can lead to numerous dental and medical issues later in life, including gum disease, cavities, plaque, tooth infections, and even heart conditions or strokes, according to recent research.
The best way to avoid such obstacles is by properly cleaning your teeth daily and by regular check-ups with your dentist. You will have a good oral hygiene when your mouth looks healthy when you smile, and when your breath doesn’t smell. A healthy smile will show clean teeth that are free from debris, along with pink gums that aren’t bleeding when flossed or brushed. Bad breath and bleeding gums from flossing or brushing indicate a dental problem, which can be checked by a dentist or hygienist.
A daily preventive dental care eradicates tooth problems and gum diseases. Here are some tips that you can follow at home:
- Brush your teeth twice a day. Use a toothbrush that has a small head and soft bristles so that the back teeth can easily be accessed. An electric toothbrush or vibrating one is better than regular toothbrushes as the circular motions carried by them clean each tooth thoroughly. Remember to brush your tongue as well so that bacteria are removed.
- Floss your teeth daily. Do it every night before going to bed to remove food particles that brushing has not removed. Flossing should be done in a slow motion along the curves of the teeth. Clean beneath the gum line as well.
- Eat a balanced diet, and cut out on junk foods, sugary snacks, and sodas. Food acids exist in sodas and juices that can dissolve in the enamel of the tooth and make cavities. Any bacteria already existing in your mouth’s dental plaque can transform the sugars in these foods into acids. In addition, most of these beverages contain high amounts of phosphorous, which depletes the level of calcium in the body. This leads to tooth decay.
- Tobacco needs to be avoided to save the health of your teeth.
- Use toothpastes and mouthwashes that contain fluoride. Fluoride aids in strengthening the tooth enamel, reducing the risk of decay and cavities. Mouthwashes with Listerine and chlorine dioxide are the best ones to choose for good breath and strong teeth.
- Never use your teeth to crack nuts or opening bottle caps, as the risk of chipping your tooth increases.
- Drink milk to increase your intake of calcium, and increase the intake of dairy products to strengthen your teeth. You should also drink orange juice for calcium. Eat yogurt, cheese, and broccoli for bones to become strong. Teeth also need vitamin D, vitamin B, copper, iodine, zinc, and potassium for the protection.
- Have regular check-ups with your dentist and dental hygienist so that any dental problems are spotted earlier. Appointments should be made every 6-months, or sooner if you have bleeding gums or toothaches. During the examination, plaque build-up will be removed and any signs of decay are checked. In the dental exam, the following signs may be detected:
- Any sign of oral cancer. If found early, oral cancer can be treated, but if it remains undetected, it can spread to other parts of the body.
- Teeth grinding, also know as bruxism, is mainly caused by stress. Biting the surface of the teeth over time can wear the surface of the teeth, which paves the path to tooth decays. Dentists provide patients suffering from bruxism with a mouth guard that has to be worn at night to prevent teeth grinding.
- Any sign of gum diseases, or gingivitis, can be detected. Tooth loss in elderly people is due to lack of gum care and gum diseases.