Dental hygiene is one part of men’s health that many tend to overlook. Generally, a lot of men are not conscious of their health, and this is even more true when it comes to dental or oral hygiene. The importance of oral hygiene stretches far beyond being healthy. At the very least, having a clean and healthy dentition is crucial as it aids free interaction with other people.
It is no news that we generally tend to avoid people with stinky breath. This makes oral hygiene highly essential in society today. Aside from the fact that having bad oral hygiene negatively affects your interaction with people, it has been found to also lead to more serious health issues like cancer, diabetes, and heart problem.
In this article, we will dive into dental sanitation and all you should know about it.
What is Dental Hygiene?
In its simplest meaning, dental or oral hygiene is caring for the mouth which comprises the teeth, tongue, and gums. It is a life-long practice that involves brushing, flossing, and moderating sugar intake. If not done properly, you risk getting oral diseases that require expensive dental treatments and procedures to cure. Practicing good dental hygiene is not as difficult as it might sound. Once you have access to any of the best teeth whitening products and kits, you should be just fine.
Keeping Your Mouth Healthy
The following should be done to maintain a healthy dentition:
- Brushing the teeth and the tongue: To have a set of teeth in peak condition, you must wash them twice a day, every day; in the morning and before going to bed. The tongue is key when it comes to having a clean breath. If not washed properly, it will cause the entire mouth to stink.
- Avoid smoking: As you may have noticed, people who smoke cigarettes tend to have dirty teeth. Smoking not only discolors a person’s dentition, but also causes bad breath, irritation, and swelling of the gum. All of which compromises the health of the mouth and all its members.
- Eating healthy: Fruits and vegetables help a lot to keep the teeth healthy. In fact, it has been found that inflamed gums are often caused by poor nutrition.
- Limiting sticky and sugary foods: Foods like candy, lollipops and other sugary foods that tend to stick to the teeth can cause tooth cavities.
- Avoid piercing the tongue and lips: Piercing any area of the mouth may lead to bleeding, nerve damage, tooth enamel damage, and infections.
Brushing and Flossing
Brushing and flossing are two very important practices when it comes to oral health. They both work to keep the teeth healthy and maintain fresh breath. Although most people brush their teeth at least once a day, not so many know that brushing the teeth should last for about two minutes.
To avoid hurting your gum, use toothbrushes with soft bristles. This helps to both prevent bleeding and wearing away of the tooth surface.
Flossing is as important as brushing and should be done daily as well. It helps to get rid of plaque stuck under the gum line and in-between areas of the teeth a toothbrush will not get to. For the most part of brushing, it can be done with minimal care, however, this is not the case with flossing. Flossing should be done carefully to avoid hurting the gum which may lead to bleeding and inflammation. Click here to learn more about flossing.
Symptoms of Dental Problems
One should not wait until one begins to observe symptoms of oral health issues before visiting a dentist. It is recommended that everyone should visit the dentist at least twice a year to have your teeth checked. This allows a dentist to detect any problem even before a person begins to observe any symptoms.
If you observe any of the symptoms listed below, you need to make a quick visit to your dentist to begin treatment as soon as possible:
- Prolonged swelling and bleeding after flossing or brushing.
- Chronic bad breath
- Regular sores in the mouth
- High sensitivity to hot or cold food and beverages.
- Severe pain
- Jaw clicking
- Pain when chewing or biting.
- Loose teeth
Types of Dental Problems
It has been found that everyone will experience at least one oral health problem in their lifetime. Which one it gets to be is entirely dependent on how seriously you take oral hygiene. Here are some of the dental health issues that are common today:
- Cavities
- Sensitive teeth
- Broken Tooth
- Gum disease
Cavities
These are the most common among all health issues that concern the mouth. Cavities are also called tooth decay and are permanently damaged areas of the teeth that often develop into holes. They are caused by bacteria, excess consumption of sugary foods and drinks, and overall, poor oral care.
Teeth Sensitivity
Also known as “dentine hypersensitivity”, is the condition whereby a person feels discomfort from consuming hot or cold foods or beverages. The feeling is that of a sharp pain with a prolonged tingling that is simply unpleasant. It may occur temporarily after receiving a dental crown or filling; however, it is largely caused by more serious oral health issues like cracked teeth, receding gum, and gum disease.
Broken Tooth
This is often caused by accidents and chewing on hard foods. A broken or cracked tooth brings immense pain and may lead to swelling of the mouth and fever. It should be treated immediately to prevent any escalations as such broken tooth may easily get infected.
Gum Disease
Also known as gingivitis, is the inflammation of the gum. It is caused by plaque and tartar that have built up on the teeth as a result of poor flossing and brushing. If left untreated, gingivitis may lead to more serious dental health issues like periodontitis. Visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodontal_disease to learn more about periodontitis.
Conclusion
Although very overlooked, oral hygiene plays a very important role in both a man’s and a woman’s overall wellbeing. As earlier mentioned, oral bacteria have been linked to health issues like endocarditis and heart disease. In women, it may even lead to premature birth. Taking care of the mouth costs nothing and so should be taken seriously by everyone.
