They say that your mouth is the window to your overall health. Your teeth, gums, and tongue say a lot about you. It can show tell-tale signs of your lifestyle – what you eat, whether you smoke, and how well you take care of your oral health.
The mouth is also a standpoint for the early detection of some systemic diseases, many of which start with a gum infection or a mouth lesion.
According to research done by Harvard University, people with chronic periodontal diseases are also more likely to develop heart and cardiovascular diseases.
A healthy mouth can also affect your overall well-being. Flashing a smile and showing off those healthy white teeth will certainly boost your confidence. To achieve this and maintain good oral health, here are a few tips you can follow:
1. Brushing your teeth.
When you were little, your parents may have reprimanded you a few times for not brushing your teeth. Well, they have a good enough reason for doing so.
A recent study shows that individuals who brush their teeth at least three times a day have a lower risk of developing heart problems. (source: The European Journal of Preventive Cardiology).
Brushing your teeth also ensures that your mouth is clean and free from any harmful bacteria that can cause infection. It effectively removes food debris that may cause plaque formation, gingivitis, and tooth decay. Moreover, it improves your self-confidence by having fresh breath and a sparkling smile at all times.
2. Chewing Sugarless Gum
Everybody loves gums. Who would not? With all the chewy flavors to choose from, chewing gums have become a favorite habit for young and old alike.
The only setback in chewing gums is that the sugar in it can be bad for your teeth.
Good thing there is a healthier option for gum fanatics—sugarless gum.
Sugarless or sugar-free gum is sweetened using artificial sugar or sugar alcohols. It does not contain normal table sugar which can damage the tooth enamel and cause cavities. Chewing sugarless gum stimulates the salivary gland and increases the production of saliva. This protects the mouth from dryness and aids in washing away debris and food particles that may damage your teeth.
The artificial sweetener Xylitol which is a main ingredient of sugarless gum is also a natural breath freshener.
3. Replacing Toothbrushes Regularly
We all know that toothbrushes should be replaced regularly. However, many of us are not aware of when it’s to bid our toothbrushes goodbye.
According to the American Dental Association ( ADA ), toothbrushes need to be replaced every three months. (https://dentistkansascityks.com/replace-your-toothbrush/).
Overuse of toothbrushes can cause their bristles to break down and get damaged. This lessens its efficacy in cleaning debris, plaque, and bacteria from our teeth. Aside from this, old and worn toothbrushes cannot effectively clean the gums and may cause Gingivitis. Molds can also form and get transferred from the old bristles to your mouth, making you sick.
A toothbrush is an essential component of your oral hygiene. To make the most of it, you must keep it clean and properly stored, and replace them every three to four months.
4. Drink a lot of Water
Water is the healthiest beverage on the planet. It has endless benefits and is essential to the survival of all living things. But do you know that water is also a major player in having a healthy mouth and teeth?
Drinking fluoridated water helps strengthen your tooth enamel and protects it against acid and plaque.
Water keeps your mouth clean by washing away leftover food and residue. This prevents bacterial build-up and cavity formation
Best of all, water is refreshing and sugar-free. So you can freely sip it all through the day and know that by doing so, you’re doing your teeth a great favor.
5. Regular Visit to the Dentist
A regular visit to the dentist is an integral part of oral care. No matter how meticulously you brush your teeth or take care of your mouth, there are details that only a dentist can see.
Having your teeth checked regularly ensures that your teeth, gums, and mouth are healthy. Through careful examination, your dentist identifies potential problems such as the onset of tooth decay or early-stage gum infection. These problems will then be managed and easily resolved.
To ensure that your teeth and gums are always in tip-top shape, a visit to the dentist twice a year is recommended. If you’re in search of one right now, this dentist who does dental implants in Woodbridge is worth checking out.
6. Avoiding Tobacco Products
We all know that smoking has detrimental effects on our health. But do you know that tobacco has equally bad effects on our mouth, gums, and teeth?
The nicotine and tar that is present in tobacco can cause staining on the teeth. It can turn your teeth from white to yellow or brown, which is often the case for cigarette smokers.
Smoking also leads to the formation of plaque, which can lead to gum disease. Because tobacco depletes oxygen in the bloodstream, healing is hastened and gum infection and inflammation progress faster. Eventually, tooth decay and tooth loss may occur. Lastly, smoking is also a leading cause of mouth cancer, which is a dreaded disease.
For optimum oral care, it is best to refrain from using tobacco products.
7. Make It a Habit to Floss
Many people underestimate the importance of flossing their teeth. Some find it inconvenient, time-consuming, and unnecessary. When you see a dentist, part of the usual questions would be “do you floss?”, because the answer to this speaks volumes about how you care for your oral health.
No matter how often you may brush your teeth, there are areas that the bristles can’t reach. These areas can be breeding grounds for bacteria and cause tooth decay.
This is where flossing is most useful. It reaches in between tight spaces and cleans areas toothbrushes can’t reach.
By removing hard-to-reach plaques and food debris, flosses prevent bacterial build-up
and protects the mouth, gums, and teeth.
With its many benefits, there is no reason why you shouldn’t make flossing a habit.
Oral care practices determine the state of health of the mouth, gums, and teeth, and susceptibility to many oral infections and diseases.
The mouth is a vessel for which activities such as eating, swallowing, speaking and smiling take place. Keeping it healthy is a must, and this can be accomplished with proper oral hygiene. As the quote says, ” Every tooth in a man’s head is more valuable than a diamond ” ( Miguel de Cervantes). For more tips on keeping your teeth strong and healthy, visit https://everhealthcareth.com/
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