Did you know that poor oral hygiene could affect your overall physical wellbeing? Well, you should also know that the health of your teeth and gums is one of the building blocks of healthy living. If you ignore oral care or don’t visit the nearest dentist, it will affect your body in more ways than you could ever imagine.
Studies have already shown that people whose oral health is bad are more prone to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory infections, dementia etc. All it needs is regular oral care including brushing, flossing, rinsing, tongue cleaning and proper diet to stay on top of your oral health.
Here are some oral hygiene tips you need to know –
Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day
Brushing your teeth twice a day, first in the morning and then before hitting the bed is essential to keep your mouth free of plaque and bacteria. This will help you greatly minimize the risks of tooth decay and periodontal diseases. You should brush gently yet thoroughly using a soft-bristled toothbrush and with a fluoride-containing toothpaste to clean the teeth. You also need to move the brush in a circular motion and reach to the inner parts of the mouth for a thorough cleaning.
Floss and Clean Your Tongue Daily
Flossing complements brushing and when both done together, it ensures total cleaning. When you floss, it basically reaches where brush bristles can’t – the small crevices in teeth. With flossing, you can take out the plaque, food debris and bacteria stuck between the teeth and get a proper cleaning. Similarly, cleaning your tongue daily will help you wash off harmful bacteria from the mouth and prevent their entry into the body systems.
Swish with Mouthwash
Brushing, flossing and tongue cleaning are the real foundation of oral hygiene. You however can give an added boost to the oral care by swishing with mouthwash. Even dentists recommend people to rinse their mouth with an anti-bacterial mouthwash. This will help stop the growth of bacteria in the mouth or even kill those present to prevent oral issues like gum disease and tooth decay. But yes, be careful with the selection of mouthwash and read about ingredients before making a choice.
Take Care with Your Toothpaste and Toothbrush
Using any toothpaste is not going to help with your oral care. You must only use fluoride toothpaste which can help strengthen the tooth enamel and minimize risks of tooth decay. Similarly, you need to use a toothbrush with soft bristles so that frayed and worn-out bristles can’t weaken your enamel. Dentists also advise changing toothbrush every two to three months for better cleaning of the teeth.
Avoid Sugar and Acidic Items
If oral care is your real concern, you then need to eat well and choose only the right foods and beverages. Sugar and starchy items are bad for your oral health and can lead to tooth decay, so either stop consuming them or cut back on their intake. Similarly, acidic items like tea, coffee, cola, soda, soft drinks, fruit juices, sports drinks can harm your teeth and it’s always better to stay away from the.
Eat a Balanced Diet
All your oral care routine will stand to naught if you don’t eat well. You simply can’t go on eating anything and everything with the hope that it won’t harm your teeth and gums. There are some good foods and some bad ones for the mouth, and you need to know that list. Some of the helpful items for your mouth include apples, carrots, cheese, curd, milk, almonds, nuts, leafy green, spinach, cucumber etc. All the foods with water content and fibers in them will be good for your oral health.
Visit The Dentist Regularly
It would be wrong to wait for oral problems to pay a visit to the dentist. You should visit the best dental clinic every six months or so for a routine oral check-up, professional cleaning and scaling and for dental advice. This will help you know if everything is well with your oral health. Plus, the dentist can spot any oral problem early and start treatment in a timely manner. This will help you stay on the right side of your oral health always.
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