Healthy Teeth and Gums Tips
The real reason for keeping your teeth healthy isn’t just about tooth loss prevention or addressing the cosmetic aspect of dental health care. Complete oral health care is about more than just safeguarding the health of the oral cavity. It also includes taking measures that promote overall health improvement. Looking at teeth and gum health in a manner that considers the health of the whole body will allow you to prevent the development of conditions that can be traced back to poor oral hygiene practices.
Critical issues relating to oral and general health can be prevented when you properly care for your teeth and gums. Here are a few healthy teeth and gums tips to consider when deciding what you can do to ensure that you practice good oral hygiene daily in order to protect teeth, keep the gums healthy and prevent oral health-related issues in the body.
Brush Your Teeth Often And Correctly
Yes, you’ve guessed it! Tip #1 is to brush your teeth daily using fluoride toothpaste. Brushing is the foundation of any oral hygiene routine. This task should be done soon after waking each day and at least once more per day. Daily brushing is the most effective way to protect your teeth from bacteria growth due to plaque and tartar buildup.
In order for this all to important step to actually be effective, brushing must be done correctly. You should brush gently using circular motions. Take time to clean the top, front and back of each tooth. Don’t forget to brush your tongue, or use a tongue scraper to prevent the buildup of problematic bacteria on the tongue.
Floss Your Teeth Every day
The perfect partner to brushing is the act of flossing. This second step, to floss every day, is one that many people tend to skip or are not as consistent as they should be. If you’re thinking about skipping out on flossing you should think again. Flossing allows you to better eliminate food particles and plaque from hard to reach places that a toothbrush can miss.
Clean or Buy A New Toothbrush
The toothbrush you use for daily brushing can be causing your oral hygiene routine to be ineffective. Toothbrushes, when not properly cleaned and maintained, can collect bacteria over time, with these microorganisms returning to your mouth every time you brush.
You should endeavor to sanitize your toothbrush from time to time. Some ways that you can do this include boiling it for about three minutes or storing in a cup of hydrogen peroxide.
If you have been using a toothbrush for more than three months, don’t bother cleaning; change it!
Chew sugarless gum
Chewing of sugar-free gum can help to remove food particles and reduce bacteria in your mouth. It assists in boosting production of saliva, preventing dry mouth which can stimulate bacteria growth.
Use An Antiseptic Mouthwash Daily
Incorporating an antiseptic mouth wash is the best way to get all around deep cleaning. Products containing certain essential oils or the antibacterial agent chlorhexidine have been shown in research to be the most beneficial to oral health.
However, we should mention that the use of a mouthwash cannot take the place of brushing and flossing. You need to see it as something that enhances the effects of those instead.
Reduce Sugary And Starchy Foods
Bacteria in the mouth depend greatly on sugars and starches for survival. If you are consuming sugary or starchy foods then you can bet that you are increasing your risk of suffering from tooth decay and other oral health conditions.
You should reduce your intake of foods containing refined sugar and processed foods. These foods include desserts, candy, sports drinks, sodas, and carbs; certain bread just to name a few. and candy. Also, avoid pasta, crackers and other starch-rich foods, which can form simple sugars in your mouth.
Instead, eat more natural foods. Fruits that are not citrusy and vegetables are especially advisable. They offer a great way of naturally cleaning the teeth and gums while getting filled.
Drink Lots Of Water
Skip the soda, energy drinks, fruit juices, and other sugary drinks. Make clean, good old water your choice for getting refreshed. Wanna some flavor? Unsweetened tea is a great choice, according to the American Dental Association (ADA) and is actually the better choice for overall health and wellbeing.
Water helps to prevent dry mouth and it also aids in clearing clear away food particles that might be lingering in your mouth.
In addition, you should consider quitting smoking if you really care about healthy teeth and gums. Smoking can cause discoloration of your teeth and tongue as well as bad breath. It increases your risk for gum disease and other forms of oral cancer as well.
It is important to visit Dr. Mjahed, a dentist in Monroe NC at regular intervals. Annual visits are extremely important when it comes to keeping healthy teeth and gums. You can reduce your risk for oral health issues greatly when you have the advice of a dental professional.
Come See Us At Our Dental Practice in Monroe, NC
Monroe Family Dentistry is there for you and your children from day one and we are happy to work with you and your child to start habits from birth. If you live near Monroe, NC call us to schedule an appointment today at 704.776.4278.