Good oral hygiene is important and not just for the sake of keeping your beautiful smile intact. Maintaining good oral hygiene can help prevent a number of medical and dental problems including gum infections and diseases, toothaches, loss of bone and most importantly, problem in chewing food. New studies also show that gum diseases can also be a potential cause for heart related diseases which makes it even more imperative for us to start taking care of our teeth from an early age.
Your teeth need care every single day of the week, so don’t think of postponing dental care for a day when you relatively more free time on your hands. It does not take a whole lot of your time, especially if you do it daily, while the benefit in terms of strong and healthy teeth can be hugely rewarding.
Below are some tips that can help you get started on a daily dental care regimen for enjoying healthy and shining teeth all through life.
Brush at least twice daily: You can prevent many tooth related issues by including this simple step as part of your daily routine. Brushing helps prevent build up acid within the mouth. Bacteria present in the mouth breaks down the food we eat to release acids which if not removed through brushing can eat away at the protective enamel coating of the teeth leaving it vulnerable to infection and breakage. Ensure that the first thing you do in the morning after waking up and the last thing you do in the evening before going to be is brush your teeth. Do not keep using the same brush for an unlimited period of time. Change your brush or the bristles on your brush periodically to ensure they can efficiently perform their job. When brushing your teeth, position the bristles at an angle of 45 degrees near the gum line. Both the gum line and the tooth surface should be in contact with the bristles. Use a soft brush and gentle back and forth motions to brush both outside and inside surfaces of the teeth. Lastly, brush the surfaces of your tongue and the roof of your mouth to remove bacteria, which might cause bad breath.
Floss at least once daily: Many people consider brushing a substitute for flossing and tend to ignore its importance. But brushing is not a substitute for flossing. This is because flossing daily can help reach food stuck deep between teeth that toothbrushes are unable to reach or dislodge. Food particles that find their place deep inside the gum do not get washed out by mouth rinse as well, the only way to remove food particles and prevent them from infecting the teeth is through flossing.
Use a fluoridated toothpaste: small quantity of fluoride consumed on a daily basis can help strengthen tooth enamel reducing the risk of decay due to infection or any other reasons. Ensure to use very small quantity of fluoride while brushing the teeth of very young children as too much of fluoride can cause white stains to appear on their teeth.
Avoid smoking: Everyone knows that smoking is injurious to health, what is lesser known is the fact that smoking can have very serious repercussions on dental health as well. When you smoke, flow of blood to the mouth is reduced increasing the probability of oral cancer and other periodontal problems. Also post dental care after surgery for smokers can prove to be longer and more prone to complications as smoking slows down and bone’s ability to heal itself.
Make healthy food choices: A healthy well balanced diet can go a long way in promoting overall good health, including strong and healthy teeth. Consuming a well-balanced diet on a daily basis can provide your teeth with nutrients and vitamins required to protect your teeth and fight off germs and bacteria. Including too much sugar and starch in your food on the other hand can cause acid build up in your mouth which in turn can be detrimental to the long term health of your teeth.
Avoid consuming too much alcohol, coffee and carbonated drinks: This is because these drinks contain high levels of phosphorus which reduce the body’s ability to absorb calcium, an important mineral required for strengthening teeth. Use straws while consuming sodas, this prevent soda from touching the teeth and helps prevent staining.
Use sealants to protect permanent teeth of your kids: Dentists recommend using sealants once permanent teeth start appearing to protect the teeth from decay and infections. A thin protective coating is applied on the chewing surfaces of permanent molars which ensures the teeth remain strong and healthy during the growing up years when sugar consumption from candies is maximum.
Use a mouth rinse after meals: Rinse your mouth regularly, especially after meals to prevent bad breath and tooth decay. Chewing sugar free gums also helps as it increases saliva in the mouth which reduces the acid build up in the mouth.
Schedule regular dental visits: Stick to your dental schedule to ensure regular cleaning and maintenance of teeth.
Lastly inculcate good oral hygiene habits in your children from an early age.
Cumberland Dentistry is one of the prominent dental care clinics that provides a complete package of dental help right from the dental diagnosis, regular oral checkups, dental emergencies, dental surgeries to sedation dentistry and many oral cures with different kind of dental treatment for root canal, halitosis, dental implants, crowns-bridges, sealants, tooth whitening and dentures. To serve our patients better, we also provide cosmetic and family dentistry at the Monterey dental center. To know more about the dental services offered by Cumberland Dentistry, visit http://www.cumberlanddentistry.com/services.html and to get insights into the insurance and payment activities you can have a quick look into http://www.cumberlanddentistry.com/insurance-and-payment.html. Feel free to contact us at 250-4329 or visit http://www.cumberlanddentistry.com/contact-us.html, to get an appointment.
