Dental hygiene is necessary to keep teeth and gums healthy. It requires practises such as brushing twice a day and visiting the dentist regularly.
Lifetime care is required to achieve healthy teeth. Even if you’ve been told to have great teeth, it is essential to need the proper steps to worry about them and avoid problems. This means using the right oral care and being aware of your regular routines.
Things to do for healthy teeth
1. Brush regularly but not aggressively
Most individuals know that brushing their teeth twice a day is essential for removing plaque and bacteria from their teeth and keeping them clean. Brushing, on the other hand, may only be helpful if people apply the proper technique.
Brushing should be done in small circular motions, with each tooth’s front, rear, and top being brushed. It takes between 2 and 3 minutes to complete this operation. Back-and-forth sawing motions should be avoided.
Tooth enamel and gums are often damaged by brushing too forcefully or with a firm-bristled toothbrush. Side effects include tooth discomfort, irreversible damage to the protective enamel of the teeth, and gum erosion.
2. Don't neglect your tongue.
When it comes to brushing, the majority of people are just concerned with their teeth. However, you may be ignoring another essential habit for keeping your mouth healthy without realising it.
The tongue is often overlooked when it comes to cleaning. We are taught from a young age the necessity of cleaning and flossing our teeth, but we often forget the need of cleaning our tongues.
Not many dental services will tell you this, but here is the reason you should clean your tongue.
Bacteria can grow up on your tongue in the same way bacteria can build upon and between your teeth. The surface of your tongue is covered with tiny bumps called papillae, germs, dead skin cells, and food particles collect within the grooves of those bumps.
Read More: Better Techniques To Keep Healthy Teeth
3. Use Fluoride Toothpaste
Fluoride is good for teeth because it helps to:
- Rebuild (remineralise) weakened tooth enamel.
- Mineral loss from dental enamel should be slowed.
- Tooth decay can be reversed in its early stages.
- Prevent dangerous oral bacteria from growing.
When bacteria in your mouth break down sugar and carbs, acids are produced, which eat away at your tooth enamel’s minerals. Mineral loss is referred to as demineralisation. Teeth with weakened enamel are more susceptible to germs that cause cavities.
Fluoride aids in the remineralisation of tooth enamel, preventing cavities and reversing early indications of tooth decay.
4. Consider Mouthwash
Mouthwash is a liquid that is used to clean the teeth, gums, and mouth. It usually contains an antibiotic to battle germs found between your teeth and on your tongue. Some people use mouthwash to keep their breath fresh, while others keep their teeth healthy.
In terms of oral hygiene, mouthwash is not a replacement for brushing and flossing, and it’s only beneficial when used correctly.
5. Avoid sugary foods
When sugars are used to sweeten foods, they provide calories but no nutritious value. They are referred to as added sugars compared to naturally occurring sugars found in fruits and milk.
Sugar-containing beverages, like sodas, juice, sweetened coffee, or tea, are also harmful since they present in teeth with a continuing sugar bath.
You might be wondering if all additional sweets contribute to tooth decay. For example, you could wonder if dextrose is terrible for your teeth. Yes, it is correct.
While refined sugar, such as candies and sweetened cereals, is the most harmful, added sugars can cause plaque and tooth decay. This is especially true when they are consumed in excess quantities.
Also Read: Best Foods For Your Teeth
6. Visit a dentist regularly.
Experts recommend that people visit a dentist for a checkup every six months. A hygienist will clean your teeth and remove plaque and tartar during an essential dental examination.
The dentist will examine cavities, gum disease, mouth cancer, and other oral health issues. They may also utilise dental X-rays to check for cavities on occasion.
According to a recent study, children and teenagers should visit the dentist every six months to help avoid cavities. Adults who perform daily dental hygiene and have a minimal risk of oral health problems may go less regularly.
Health Issues Caused By Bad Oral Health
Cardiovascular Disease
Heart disease is more probable in people who have poor oral health. Assume the gums are inflamed as a result of periodontal disease-causing bacteria.
The same germs can enter the bloodstream and cause plaque to grow up and harden in the arteries. It causes blood flow issues and cardiac obstructions, which increases the risk of a heart attack.
Damage to the arteries and blood vessels can result in hypertension and an increase in strokes. Endocarditis, which happens when the heart’s lining becomes infected and is generally fatal, can also develop.
Diabetes
Diabetes lowers the body’s ability to fight illness. Gum disease is more likely to develop when blood sugar levels are high. Additionally, gum disease can make it more difficult to control blood sugar levels.
Keep your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible to protect your gums. Sometimes your dentists may want to see you more often.
Brush and floss after each meal, and use an antibacterial mouthwash once a day. At the very least, see your dentist twice a year. If you have diabetes and are above the age of 50, your chances are even higher. Whether or not you have diabetes, dental problems and ageing go hand in hand.
Pregnancy Complications
If you have gum disease while pregnant, you’re more likely to have a baby born too soon and too small. The exact nature of the link between the two conditions is unknown. Underlying inflammation or infections may be at blame.
Gum disease appears to be increased by pregnancy and the hormonal changes that accompany it. To learn how to protect yourself and your baby, speak with your obstetrician or dentist.
Cancer
Infections of the Respiratory System
Poor oral health might cause problems with the respiratory system. Like those found in infected teeth and swollen gums, bacteria in the mouth can be inhaled or transported to the lungs through circulation.
The bacteria can cause respiratory infections, pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and even COPD after they’ve entered the body.
Implementing healthy oral health habits creates a foundation for lifelong dental health. A variety of things influences oral health. Finding a dental home and implementing a preventative care plan will help you avoid developing dental disease.
In order to maintain good oral health, people must be educated on preventative practices, proper dental hygiene, how cariogenic germs can be spread, injury prevention, and the significance of regularly planned appointments at appropriate intervals.
