‘A genuine smile comes from the heart, But a healthy smile needs good dental care‘ – Wayne Chirisa.
A healthy smile makes you feel great and confident about yourself. Seeing your sparkling smile makes people around you happy too. However, maintaining this smile is not easy. Following good oral hygiene is essential to have healthy teeth and gums. As a matter of fact, oral health improves your overall health.
The Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 evaluated that ‘oral diseases affect 3.5 billion people worldwide, with untreated dental caries being among the most prevalent non-communicable diseases.’
Without proper care, even a healthy mouth can get gum disease, cavities, or tooth decay. To prevent these problems, it is necessary to follow proper dental care at home, to pay regular visits to dentists, and to make some changes in your lifestyle.
Here’s how with simple practices, you can achieve good oral health.
Brush regularly and properly
You must be aware of the fact that we need to brush our teeth twice daily. But it has been observed that most people neglect the requirement of brushing their teeth at night. Brushing before bed at night helps in the removal of bacteria and plaque that accumulate during the day and also keep your teeth clean.
Moreover, the technique you use to brush your teeth is also as important as regular brushing. Take your time and make small circular movements to clean, making sure to brush the front, top, and back of teeth. Otherwise, unremoved plaque can get hard, resulting in gingivitis and calculus accumulation. It’ll take around 2 to 3 minutes to do this.
Also, keep in mind that tooth enamel and gums can get damaged by brushing too rough or using a hard-bristled toothbrush. That is why it is recommended to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and also to replace your toothbrush every three months.
Along with that, it is important to clean your tongue every time you brush. It helps in the removal of odor-causing bacteria and improves your taste buds.
Use fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash
Fluoride is essential for healthy teeth and gums. It is recommended to use toothpaste and mouthwash that contains fluoride. It helps in the prevention of tooth decay by fighting the germs and bacterias. It also creates a protective layer on your teeth to keep them healthy and strong.
So next time you buy toothpaste or mouthwash, make sure that the ingredient includes fluoride in it.
Don’t forget to floss
Brushing can only be effective if you clean every part of your teeth. Your toothbrush can not reach everywhere, which is why you must floss once daily. It also helps to remove plaque, bacteria, and bad breath by cleaning debris and food that has been stuck in your teeth.
Visit your dentist regularly
For good oral health, it is necessary that you get a dental check twice a year. Visual symptoms of cavities, tooth decay, mouth cancer, and other oral health problems will be examined by the dentist. The experts in Adult orthodontic treatment remarks that adults who follow good oral hygiene can also have problems with gum and jaw joints. Frequent visits to your dentist can help in the early detection of a problem and its treatment on time.
Avoid smoking and alcohol
Smoking causes gum disease, leads to bad breath, and yellowing of teeth. With the consumption of alcohol, the outer surface of the teeth erode, resulting in the loss of enamel. Moreover, both smoking and drinking can cause mouth cancer.
Reduce sugary food
Consumption of high sugary food such as desserts, candies, chocolates, etc. can cause cavities. To prevent the problem of tooth decay, eat more fruits and vegetables. It will help you in maintaining your sugar intake without affecting your teeth.
In fact, consumption of food such as bread, chips, pasta, etc. should be reduced, as they create acid-producing bacteria in your mouth resulting in tooth decay. Instead, eating high fiber food and proteins will be beneficial for your gums and teeth.
Drink Water
There is no health or skin problem which water can’t solve. Drinking an adequate amount of water helps in the overall health of the human body. Drinking water after eating food helps in the removal of acid created by residual food.
It only takes a few minutes to make your life better. Practicing these few habits will make your teeth and gums strong, improve oral hygiene and health. With this healthy and bright smile, no one can stop you from conquering the world.
