12 Easy Tips for Good Oral Hygiene
Teeth can sparkle in a good smile but they
can cause you to curse when you have a toothache. Careful oral hygiene
is the key to not spending too much time at the dentist’s office. The
answer lies in small daily practices that can improve your overall
health and general health of your mouth and teeth.
1. A diet rich in calcium and vitamins
You don't usually think about diet causing teeth decay but you need
calcium to keep your teeth and bones healthy. It can be found in dairy
products, broccoli, fortified orange juice and cereal, and other leafy
green vegetables. You might also consider taking a supplement.
If you don’t have a diet rich in multivitamins opt for a multipurpose
vitamin supplement as Vitamin D, Vitamin B complex, copper, zinc,
iodine, iron, and potassium all play important roles in your oral
health.
2. Replace your toothbrush regularly
Dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush (or toothbrush head) every
three to four months to prevent bacteria from growing. It also ensures
your bristles aren’t soft and ineffective. Dentists also suggest
Investing in an electronic one as they brush faster and are better for
brushing your gums, which need equal attention.
3. Brush your teeth twice a day
This is old advice, but this doesn’t stop it from being true. The best
way to make sure your teeth are healthy is by brushing them twice a day.
Spending 2 to 3 minutes brushing your teeth, in a back-and-forth and
up-and-down motion gets rid of plaque and food particles that rest on or
in between your teeth.
4. Brush your tongue and gums too
Brushing your gums helps prevent gum disease which can cause your gums
to swell and bleed easily. Make sure to spend a minute brushing your
gums too. Lots of bacteria rest on the roof of your mouth and tongue,
which can cause bad breath. Brushing your tongue helps prevent acid from
buildup and gets rid of bacteria. You can buy a professional tongue
cleaner to help with this.
5. Quit using tobacco
It’s horrible for your health overall and dental health specifically.
Tobacco prematurely ages the mouth and leads to mouth cancers. Smoking
tobacco stains teeth and interrupts calcium absorption in your body.
Additionally masking the smell of smoke means using chewing gums or
sweets high in sugar, or drinking tea and coffee, which are notorious
for teeth decolorization.
6. Find a friendly dentist
The very mention of dentists conjures thoughts of discomfort, pain or
torture for some people. Despite that it’s important to have someone you
trust keeping an eye on your teeth, so why not find one you like. Ask
friends and colleagues for recommendations. If a dentist likes their job
and you like them, you won’t dread visiting them.
7. Get a cleaning
Visit your friendly dentist once or twice a year. You should also get a
cleaning by the hygienist. A doctor can check for signs of disease
(usually by taking x-rays). Most oral diseases like periodontitis,
gingivitis, and oral cancer don’t have symptoms in their early stages.
Catching these types of ailments early will be more affordable, easier
to treat and less painful overall.
Source
8. Flossing equipment
You often hear the dentist nagging you about this one. Fortunately,
there are many floss aides and interdental brushes on the market to help
you reach those remote to deep parts of your mouth that toothbrush
bristles and mouthwash cannot wash away. Flossing removes food and
plaque, which form bacteria, which can cause decay. Dentists recommend
flossing once a day, usually before bed.
Handy tip: if you’re away from home for long periods of the day take
floss with you. You can also rinse with water to loosen food from
resting in hard to reach places and bacteria from growing.
9. Use mouthwash, in between brushing and flossing
This is an effortless purchase that can accompany brushing and flossing,
however, rinsing doesn’t replace these good practices. Mouthwash not
only gives you good breath in between brushings, but it helps prevent
gum disease such as gingivitis. A good mouthwash contains Listerine or
chlorine dioxide, which works at killing and maintaining bacteria in
your mouth. Mouthwash should also have fluoride in it to maintain strong
teeth.
10. Use a Straw
Sodas, cordials, and fruit drinks are high in food acids, which can
soften tooth material and break up minerals in tooth enamel, leading to
cavities. Coffee, alcohol, and sodas have high amounts of phosphorous,
which are healthy in small amounts, but excess amounts reduce calcium. A
lot of these drinks have additives such as corn syrup or food dye,
which dull and discolor white teeth. In this case, using a straw helps.
11. Chew sugarless gum
Gum chewing can be really beneficial for oral hygiene because it
stimulates saliva flow. This buffers acids and helps bacteria that lead
to decay from forming. Opt for sugarless gum, namely those with xylitol,
which has shown to reduce cavities comparatively to other sweeteners.
Gum with sugar is more problematic as bacteria in dental plaque can
change sugar into acids.
12. Get a fluoride treatment
Dental hygienists can provide you with a topical fluoride treatment.
This substance helps harden tooth enamel, creating stronger acid
resistance and decreasing the risk of decay. Fluoride is added to
drinking water in several countries but can also be found in toothpaste
and mouthwashes.