5 TIPS FOR HEALTHY TEETH AND GUMS
Dental health is an important part of a healthy life as well as your overall physical health just as eating healthy and exercising regularly. There is more to keeping your teeth healthy other than just brushing them everyday. But what about diet, fluoride and regular dentist visit? Here are the 5 essential habits for excellent oral health.
- Floss once, brush your teeth twice a day
This is crucial if you want to maintain healthy teeth and gums. How you brush is equally as important as how often you brush your teeth. Indeed, doing a poor job of brushing your teeth is almost as bad as not brushing at all. Take your time by moving the toothbrush in gentle, circular motions to remove plaque. However, brushing alone is not enough. Flossing is important to remove bacteria and plaque between your teeth and below the gum line that the toothbrushes can't reach. Many patients admits skipping the flossing stage but you should do both to prevent bacteria growth and protect your teeth.
-Use Fluoride but not too much
Fluoride helps protect your teeth by strengthening the enamel, making it less likely to decay. Therefore, you may want to use fluoridated water, toothpaste or mouth rinses that contain fluoride to protect your teeth. However, fluoride should be used no more than a pea-sized dab on the brush since too much of it can cause white spots on teeth.
-Avoid Tobacco
Smoking and chewing tobacco is lethal for your oral health in general. It not only stains teeth by making them yellow it also weakens teeth and can potentially cause harmful gum (periodontal) diseases as well as oral cancer. For your overall well-being, if you smoke you should seriously consider quitting it.
-Consider your diet
A well-balanced diet is essential in every age to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Which includes; grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, fish, nuts and meat to get all the necessary. In addition, you should also reduce the take of sugary foods (especially sugary and carbonated drinks) to reduce the risk of decay since they linger on teeth surfaces and affect the health of your teeth.
-Visit your dentist twice a year
It is vital to protect your oral health. Therefore, you should visit your dentist for cleanings and check-ups. These cleanings will help remove plaque and tartar which may cause gum disease and other problems in the future. Regular dental examinations play a big role when it comes to preventing issues at an early stage.