Aside from ensuring that you end up with beautiful selfies every single time, your pearly-whites also play a crucial role in your physical well-being. You prevent yourself from having bad breath, as well as lessen the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, which are common causes for tooth loss as people grow older.
Plus, it’s been found that long-term gum infections and unattended plaque can lead to other serious health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and preterm birth for women. This happens when bacteria from your mouth enter the bloodstream through routine brushing and flossing.
Here are some oral health tips you should do regularly to keep your teeth and mouth healthy:
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Don’t Forget to Floss
It’s recommended to floss before or after you’ve brushed your teeth to ensure that all food bits and pieces have been removed in your mouth. Sometimes, your toothbrush can’t reach the tiny spaces between the teeth, so pairing it with the action of flossing can thoroughly clean your teeth and gums.
To floss correctly, you’ll need a lot of floss to cover up all the nooks and crannies in your mouth. Then, loop them between your thumbs and index fingers. Make sure that you’re holding the string tautly. Slide up and down at the side of your tooth and curve the floss at the base, going beneath the gum line. Be sure to keep it gentle, though, since you don’t want to irritate your gums.
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Learn How to Brush Properly
Brushing your teeth seems like a straightforward affair, but it’s not just about going through all your teeth and rinsing off the toothpaste. First, you must choose a soft-bristled brush to retain the enamel coating of your teeth. Next, remember to brush at least twice a day: once in the morning and evening. Some people like to brush their teeth after every meal, including snack time. However, too much brushing can weaken the enamel as well.
To properly brush your teeth, direct your toothbrush toward the gum line at a 45-degree angle. Use short, circular motions, lasting for about 10 to 15 seconds for each tooth. Remember to be gentle, since aggressive brushing can erode your gum line and damage the surface of your teeth. Moreover, don’t skip cleaning your tongue since it can also breed plaque if left unattended.
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Visit Your Dentist
In addition to routine brushing and flossing, you must schedule an appointment with your dentist regularly to maintain your oral health. As the adage says, “Prevention is better than cure.” In this case, ensuring that your teeth and gums are healthy is more affordable than having to go through procedures to treat advanced periodontitis, which pertains to the severe inflammation of your gums leading to its recession and, ultimately, falling of the teeth.
Whether you’re from New York or looking for a dentist serving Kennesaw, it’s crucial that you have a doctor to whom you can turn for routine checkups and oral health maintenance.
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Skip Sodas and Sugars
Soda may be sinfully delicious with its fizz, but the same characteristic can destroy the surface of your teeth due to phosphoric acid and citric acid. Softdrinks and other sweet drinks, whether carbonated or not, are some of the worst foods for your teeth because of their high sugar content. Sugar facilitates the presence of bacteria and acid in your mouth, which can do severe damage to your teeth and gums.
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Avoid Too Much Alcohol
Moderate alcohol intake can benefit your health by raising the levels of good cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in your body. However, too much consumption of liquor can stain your teeth and make your mouth dry. Saliva keeps your mouth moist, which lowers its acidity levels to prevent tooth decay, as well as lessen the risk of bacteria growth.
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Stop Smoking
Unlike alcohol, smoking has no medical benefit whatsoever. Not only does it harm your lungs and heart, but it also has adverse effects on your immune system, making you more susceptible to gum disease. Smokers may also have slower recovery progress after a dental procedure than those who don’t smoke.
Conclusion
Your body is composed of interconnected systems. That’s why proper oral hygiene is crucial in maintaining your physical well-being. Make sure that you practice the right brushing techniques and cultivate the habit of flossing. Visit your dentist regularly as well for routine cleaning and other dental maintenance procedures. Also, you must have a teeth-friendly diet by avoiding sodas, sugary snacks, and alcohol.
