Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is easy with the proper oral hygiene practice. A healthy mouth is essential for preventing tooth decay and avoiding gum infections. Dental health can lead to discomfort, low self-esteem, and tooth loss when it is ignored. Those issues can also lead to malnutrition, difficulty speaking, and other concerns.
Poor oral health can affect cardiovascular health as well as other parts of the body. There is such a large impact on global health that it should be classified as a global health burden. The good news is that there are a few things you can do to improve your dental hygiene and, as a result, your health.
You can take the following steps:
Brush properly
One of the essential activities for keeping teeth clean and free of plaque and bacteria is twice-daily brushing. Alternatively, brushing may only be effective if it is done correctly.
Each tooth’s front, rear, and top should be brushed in small circular motions. This procedure can take anywhere from 2 to 3 minutes. People should avoid making sawing motions in their daily lives.
Too much pressure during brushing or using a toothbrush with a harsh bristle might harm the teeth’ enamel and gums. Teeth sensitivity, lasting damage to the enamel of teeth, and gum erosion are all possible consequences.
The enamel and gums can be damaged by excessive brushing; hence dentists prescribe soft-bristle toothbrushes. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommended brushes with angled or multi-layered bristles to ensure a thorough clean without damaging your teeth.
Floss regularly
When yo floss, you can remove plaque and bacteria between the teeth that a toothbrush cannot. It helps prevent foul breath by eliminating food and debris lodged between teeth.
Even though there is no long-term research showing it to be advantageous, Flush your teeth, the American Dental Association (ADA) nevertheless advises. The CDC also recommends flossing.
Professionals in the field of dentistry generally recommend that patients use a gentle upward-and-down motion during flossing, all the way down to the gum line. Avoid snapping the floss up and down between the teeth, which can cause pain and does not remove plaque as effectively.
Avoid unhealthy habits
Healthy habit formation should be a priority to maintain good oral health.
Nail-biting
The enamel on your incisors and canines may be eroded as a result of nail-biting. Additionally, it places strain on the jaw, increasing the risk of jaw dysfunction. People with mental health issues are more likely to engage in this behavior. Applying bitter-tasting nail paint and receiving stress-relieving therapy are a couple of the options.
Clenching and grinding teeth
As a result of grinding your teeth, you may chip or break your teeth. When the damage reaches the roots of the teeth, it can cause a great deal of discomfort. Tenderness in the jaw muscles and joints is another possible side effect. Most of us clench and grind our teeth without even realizing it. The usage of a mouthguard when sleeping or engaging in strenuous physical activity is highly recommended by dentists.
Quit smoking
According to CDC, smoking is a significant risk factor for serious gum disease in the United States. The bacteria (germs) on your teeth cause gum disease when they penetrate your gum line. After a while, your teeth accumulate plaque (film) and tartar (solidified plaque).
Chewing ice
Whatsoever the reason, it’s a bad habit that needs to be broken. If you’re unlucky, ice-chewing may end up costing you or your parents a trip to the dentist or orthodontist.
Chewing ice can cause teeth to become sensitive to hot and cold foods and beverages. A cavity or hole may form in your tooth if you break or fracture it while chewing ice. This is because acids created by bacteria can more easily permeate the dentin, the softer layer of the tooth.
Chewing ice puts your teeth at risk if you already have fillings, crowns, or veneers, or if you wear braces, a retainer, or expanders.
A filling or a root canal, a more serious surgery needing anesthesia, may be necessary, depending on the severity of the condition.
Cut back on sugar
A person’s mouth is filled with hundreds of microorganisms. Most of the bacteria in your mouth are beneficial, and you need them to maintain a healthy mouth. The sugars in ice cream, candy, cookies, and other sugar-laden treats are a favorite target for dangerous microorganisms. Using these sugars as a source of energy, these bacteria produce acids that erode the tooth’s outer layer of enamel.
In other words, the acids produced by these nasty bacteria erode at your teeth’ natural, protective enamel. Leaving sugar on your teeth allows acids to eat away not only the enamel but also deeper into the tooth’s structure, which is what leads to cavities.
Cutting sugar can halt this process, preventing cavities and preserving your teeth’ protective enamel. Of course, eliminating sugar from one’s diet is a major undertaking. Your teeth will benefit greatly from even a small reduction in the amount of sugar you consume. In this instance, you’ll also want to follow a few habits that can help rebuild (or remineralize) your dental enamel to keep it robust after being exposed to sugar.
Replace your acidic drinks with water
Even if you follow good oral hygiene practices like brushing and flossing regularly, you may further safeguard your teeth by avoiding the things that can harm them in the first place. Coffee, tea, wine, and soda are just some common beverages that can promote tooth decay or staining. Drinking water instead of sugary or carbonated drinks, especially when eating, can help to preserve food and delay deterioration or discoloration.
Pay a visit to your local dental or orthodontic clinic
The best method to maintain your teeth and gums healthy is to regularly visit a dental expert like an orthodontist in Stafford, Virginia, rather than waiting until anything goes wrong. Because your dentist can spot minor problems before they become biggies, it’s a good idea to make frequent dental appointments so you may ask your dentist any questions regarding oral hygiene and health.
Visiting the dentist can be a dreaded experience for many Americans, yet your dentist is there to help you stay healthy, much like your primary care physician. Do not be hesitant to tell your dentist if you are experiencing any discomfort in your mouth so that they can evaluate the region and take appropriate action if necessary. As a patient, you should never be afraid to inquire about various treatment options.