People don’t pay much attention to the hygiene of their teeth and take it for granted. But it is just as important as the rest of the body and must be taken care of. Poor dental hygiene leads to gum bleeding, bad breath, and frequent toothache. Everyone needs to pay attention to oral health regularly rather than rarely. Maintaining good dental health is easy; anyone can have good teeth with a few simple steps. From brushing your teeth twice a day to seeing a doctor twice a year, this can help significantly prevent tooth problems. Here’s the ultimate guide to oral health.
Brush at Least Twice a Day
Just brushing your teeth routinely in the morning and night will help maintain good oral health. Brushing is essential to get rid of food particles stuck between your teeth. Failure to remove the residue can cause bad breath and other infections. At the same time, do not brush too aggressively as it may damage your gums and cause bleeding. Brush up and down instead of sideways for at least 1 minute each time. Side brushing is not effective at removing clogged food particles.
Use Dental Floss and Mouthwash
Food residues often get stuck between your teeth and cannot be removed by brushing your teeth. This is where dental floss comes to your dental rescue. Dental floss not only cleans the space between the teeth but also helps increase blood flow to the gums, prevent inflammation and reduce plaque. Dental plaque can become inflamed and lead to tooth decay. Mouthwash can also be incorporated into your dental treatment routine. It has been shown to reduce the amount of acid in the mouth and prevent infections such as periodontitis. Remember your tongue when cleaning your mouth. Clean it regularly with a tongue cleaner.
Reduce Sugar Intake
Our parents weren’t wrong when they tried to prevent us from overeating sweets and chocolates. Too much sugar can lead to tooth decay, which is the main cause of most tooth problems. Sugar is more challenging to remove from our teeth. The remaining sugar converts bacteria into lactic acid. Lactic acid is the leading cause of tooth decay. Cavities slowly erode the teeth without care, and when they reach the gums, they cause pus and other bacterial infections.
Eat a Healthy Diet
A nutritious diet is essential for maintaining good health. To maintain good dental health, you need sufficient calcium to keep your teeth strong. Calcium-rich foods such as dairy products and leafy vegetables help maintain stronger teeth. Dentists recommend crispy fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots as they help remove plaque on your teeth. They are natural whitening agents for teeth and prevent yellowing of teeth. They also serve as natural stimulants for the gums and teeth.
Drink Plenty of Water
Water is essential for your overall health and for maintaining oral hygiene. It is not possible to brush your teeth every time you eat, but the food particles keep accumulating. Drinking water after every meal is advised, so a few of these particles get washed away from the mouth. Not only that, saliva production is essential to dental health, and it prevents many dental problems. Saliva production may be hampered if the body is dehydrated due to a lack of fluids. Hence, ensure drinking at least 3 to 4 litres of water daily.
Quit Smoking
Smoking is terrible for your overall health, but it’s awful for your mouth. Smokers have yellow teeth, stink, and weak gums. Their gingival tissue weakens over time and is very susceptible to bacterial infections. In the case of a bacterial infection, healing is prolonged. They are at high risk for tongue, oral, and lung cancer.
Keep a Check on Other Diseases
Lifestyle diseases like diabetes, etc., influence dental hygiene. They slow down the healing process of the body. So if you have a dental problem like any gum infection, it may worsen. On the other hand, your blood sugar levels may reduce if the gum disease is treated.
Regular Dentist Visits
People often avoid visiting dentists. They are scared of them. But they are there to help maintain the health of our teeth. We usually don’t call them and only go to them when the problem worsens. We recommend you see your dentist at least twice a year, every six months. When a tooth problem begins, they can help us fix it by letting us know how to stop it before it worsens. Teeth whitening is also recommended. This can only be done professionally by dental service providers. Brushing your teeth regularly will help your dentist advise you on some precautions that will help you maintain good oral health and prevent future damage.
Wrapping Up
Oral hygiene has to become a part of your routine because teeth are not only crucial for a body’s proper functioning but also one of the primary factors that are a part of your first impression. If you have crooked or yellowing teeth, you may not be approached as quickly, and bad breath is one of the biggest turn-offs. So welcome a confident life with a good oral care routine.
