Your smile can tell a lot about your personality and, more importantly, your overall health condition. Most people mistakenly overlook oral and dental health importance only for an individual’s external appearance, but they imply much further than that.
By having healthy teeth and mouth, you can combat various illnesses that can throw off your overall health.
Importance of Good Dental Health
Oral and dental healthcare are among the most expensive healthcare services around the world. That is why some families can’t afford regular dental examinations and treatments.
Instead of consulting during the first onset of their dental issue, many individuals choose to see a dentist only when their dental condition becomes worse and unmanageable.
Your oral and dental health is a valuable element of your entire health. Complications and underlying conditions on your teeth and mouth can affect your daily lifestyle and prevent you from doing your usual routine.
For instance, cavities and tooth decay can cause toothache, and the pain can interfere with your activities. As the condition exacerbates, it can eventually spread on your whole mouth and lead to mouth and dental diseases.
Once you’ve experienced these troubles, seeking professional assistance from dental specialists equipped with dental experts of different needs, such as Familydentalhealth.com, is paramount.
Along with professional help, here are numerous tips and tricks to keep your smiles and laughs healthy and worry-free:
- Practice Good Oral and Dental Hygiene
The first tip is already a must for everyone, and they shouldn’t be reminded of this all the time, yet some people still neglect their dental health by not brushing and flossing frequently and adequately.
One of the essential tips for having healthy teeth and gums is to practice good oral and dental hygiene, through the following measures:
- Brush your teeth: An estimated 300 species of bacteria reside in your mouth right now. A dirty mouth is the perfect breeding ground for these organisms. Regularly brushing your teeth isn’t enough to make your teeth clean.
Doing it for 2 minutes twice a day can prevent the plaque from hardening. Don’t rush and avoid brushing too soon after eating acidic food because it can soften the tooth enamel, which can lead to damage.
- Floss Regularly: There are bacteria between tight spaces that your toothbrush can’t reach, making flossing is also essential. When flossing, rub it in an up and down motion. A wrong way of flossing can create fiction that can deteriorate the gum line.
- Utilize the Right Cleaning Equipment
The type of toothbrush plays a significant role in maintaining good dental health. When choosing a brush, opt for brushes with a small head and bristles so that it can go inside your mouth comfortably and reach places where there is food debris.
Change your toothbrush after three months or when the bristles are bent. For the toothpaste, ensure that one of the ingredients is fluoride. Fluoride can prevent tooth decay by fighting against germs and creating protective barriers for your teeth.
Even if you floss and brush regularly, if you don’t use fluoride, it can still lead to oral diseases and dental issues. You can also use fluoridated water. To find out if the water contains fluoride, you can ask your local government.
- Do The Proper Brushing Technique?
Because you already know that brushing your teeth at least twice a day can remove food particles, you should also understand that there’s a proper technique to effectively clean your teeth.
Start brushing your teeth by holding the brush at a 45-degree angle and aim it towards the area of your gum line. Make circular motions and gently do back and forth movements. Utilize the tip of your brush and clean the inside of the front teeth by doing an up-and-down stroke.
Lastly, brushing your tongue can also eliminate bacteria odor-causing germs, which can cause halitosis and periodontal disease. Keep in mind to prevent aggressive motions as this can damage your teeth and hurt your gums.
- Consider Adding A Mouthwash
Including mouthwash to your oral care routine can also promote better oral health. A mouth rinse containing antibacterial ingredients can remove debris that causes gingivitis and gum diseases in areas where your floss and toothbrush can’t reach.
Aside from that, it can lessen the amount of acid inside your mouth and remineralize your teeth. Do note that mouthwash is not a replacement for floss and toothbrush but complements these habits for healthier dental health.
Certain types of mouth rinse respond to particular needs, so talk to your dentist before using a mouth rinse. For example, kids are not allowed to use fluoride mouthwash because they may ingest them.
- Avoid Smoking and Alcohol Intake
Aside from causing lung diseases, smoking also allows plaque and bacteria to stick on your teeth and gum line. It’ll harm the tissues and attack the roots, which will lead to tooth loss.
Tobacco causes ninety percent of people to suffer from oral cancer. Furthermore, it affects the appearance of your teeth because the tar and nicotine make a yellow shade of the teeth and tongue.
Moreover, people who drink alcohol have high plaque levels, and just like smokers, they also have stained teeth because of the sugar content. Remember to wash your mouth with water, or much better, keep yourself hydrated by drinking enough water or unsweetened tea.
- Regulate the Consumption of Acidic and Sugary Food
Eating candies, chocolates, and other sugary foods cause plaque, bacteria, and acidity inside your mouth. But you don’t have to worry because you can still consume foods containing sugar, but you have to limit your intake.
Reducing your consumption can lessen the risk of dental problems. Starchy food, such as pasta, bread, and crackers can also break down and become simple sugar, so you should also restrict yourself from overeating these types of food.
- Maintain Regular Dentist Appointments
Although you’re taking good care of your teeth, you should still visit your dentist regularly for check-ups. Your dentist can clean your teeth and remove plaque and check any signs of oral health issues.
They’ll also conduct dental X-rays and look for cavities to eliminate. Revisit your dentist at least twice a year, especially when you notice any changes in your mouth.
However, adults who have good oral hygiene can diminish the risk of dental issues so they can visit less frequently. Some companies also have dental insurance that can allow you to do frequent check-ups, so you should take advantage and see if you have dental issues.
By doing this, you can reduce the chances of worse oral problems.
Takeaways
Maintaining good dental health can help keep your teeth and gums strong and healthy. By brushing and flossing your teeth, using the correct equipment, doing the right technique, you can make your teeth cleaner.
Also, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes, reducing sugary food consumption, and visiting your dentist frequently can prevent dental problems and have better overall well-being.