Your smile means a lot more than just an expression of joy and happiness. It is also an indicator of your mouth’s overall health. Give yourself more reasons to smile by caring for those pearly whites and equipping yourself with good habits in dental care. Nail the basic first. Remember what your dentist taught you during your first visit when you were younger.
According to studies, at least 59% of children ages 5-17 are affected with tooth decay. This just proves that it is important to start a good habit in oral hygiene while young. So let’s get down to the basics. What are the important practices that you need to know in the world of oral health?
Brush your teeth regularly
- This means that you have to do it on a daily basis and at least twice a day.
- Brushing also has a proper procedure. You don’t just scrub away. Dental professionals suggest that you need to clean your teeth in an average of two minutes. Start by working on the outer surface of the teeth in short circular strokes. Do not forget to brush the inner surface as well since most of the food particles get stuck there. Check out this video on teaching your kids to brush properly.
- Choose a brush that has soft bristles that do proper cleaning without causing your gums to bleed or inuring your gums as you gently sweep away the bacteria in your mouth.
- Studies have shown that the 73% of average American adult population would rather do something else than floss their teeth. What you do not know is that the short amount of time that you invest in flossing your teeth would give you a long-term advantage in the overall health condition of your mouth.
- Flossing for at least once a day helps rid of food particles that have been stuck in between the teeth that brushing alone can not handle. It also stimulates blood flow in the gums thus improves gum health.
- While there is a proper way of brushing, there is also a proper way of flossing. Use at least 18 inches of dental floss as you gently clean in between the teeth without hurting the gum line. Make sure that you move to a clean segment of the floss as you carry on cleaning the next tooth.
Watch your diet and lifestyle
- While it is tempting to snack on sweets, you should also consider the health of your teeth. Go for healthy options such as fruits or less starchy and sugary food that may cause cavities, which can lead to tooth decay. Candies and gummy sweets are not just the only ones that contribute to cavities. Sodas which contain at about 11 teaspoons of sugar per serving are also known culprits. Diet sodas are also not exempted. Though they may contain less sugar but using artificial sweeteners, the acid may also damage the tooth’s enamel.
- Smoking is not only bad for your health, it is also bad for your choppers. These can leave ugly stains on your teeth and give you bad breath. It also causes gum disease and what’s even worse, it can cause cancer to your mouth and lungs.
- Coffee can also stain the teeth and turn your pearly whites into yellow over time. It is also acidic therefore adding risks to damaging your tooth’s enamel. Luckily, there are services offered by dentists that help remove these stains.
- Avoid using your teeth to open things. Kick the habit, though it may seem harmless, you are unwittingly cracking and damaging your teeth
Tongue cleaning and gum massaging
- Cleaning the tongue with a soft bristled brush or with a tongue cleaner is helpful in getting rid of bad breath caused by the bacteria that build up on the tongue.
- Gum massaging can be done with your manual toothbrush as you carry out brushing your teeth. You can also do it using your fingers. Electric toothbrushes offer this feature, too. Most of them come with massage modes or vibration settings that stimulate the blood flow in the gums and improve your mouth’s overall health.
Visit your Dentist
- It is always best to have a professional to check and care for your teeth and gums. It is advisable to have a dental check up at least twice a year or every six months.
- Have your teeth professionally cleaned and rid of tartar and plaques that have built up in your mouth.
- Babies as young as 6 months or at least when the first primary teeth emerge are already advised to see a dentist to assess their dental health.
- Your dentist will also advise you on the condition of your teeth, whether you’ll need braces, whitening, prosthetics, extraction, and tooth fillings. It is wise to choose a dentist that you are comfortable with because this will be a long-term health partnership.
These are the simple basics of oral health care. Always remember that prevention is always better than cure. Once you practice these habits on a regular basis, you shouldn’t have to worry about your overall oral health, which gives you truly something to smile about.