By Dr. Corne Smith
We all know that keeping our teeth and gums healthy means taking care of them every day. Beyond giving you a killer-smile, your teeth actually help you speak and eat properly. Good oral health is essential to your overall well-being. You may be brushing every day, but are you doing enough to avoid losing your teeth later in life
To get the most out of your daily oral hygiene routine, follow these simple tips:
1. Use dental products that contain fluoride
The first step towards keeping gums and teeth healthy is by brushing twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste and flossing at least once in a day. Fluoride helps to fight against cavities and keeps your teeth healthy & strong.
2. Brush like a dentist
One of the easiest steps to do to help your teeth keep clean. When brushing your teeth, make sure the bristles are 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. Brush the outer surfaces of the teeth using a back-and-forth, up-and-down motion – but do it gently to avoid bleeding. To clean the inside surfaces of the teeth and gums, place the bristles at a 45-degree angle again and repeat the back-and-forth, up-and-down motion. Lastly, brush the surfaces of your tongue and the roof of your mouth to remove bacteria, which might cause bad breath.
3. Visit a dentist regularly
It is vital for everyone to visit a dentist for a routine check-up and professional cleaning. If you only go once you feel pain, it’s often too late: a dentist can pick-up problems before they get worse, and make sure your brushing technique is correct.
4. Limit coffee and Alcohol
Although these drinks have a high level of phosphorous, which is a necessary mineral for a healthy mouth, too much phosphorous can deplete the body’s level of calcium. This leads to dental hygiene problems such as tooth decay and gum disease.
5. Add calcium to your diet
You need plenty of calcium for your teeth. It is essential for the teeth as well as your bones. It is better to drink milk, fortified orange juice and to eat yoghurt, cheese, and other dairy products.
6. Avoid Tobacco
This will be a big favour to your teeth. There are two main reasons to avoid tobacco products:
- it will save you from oral cancer and periodontal complications
- it will save you from the many ill effects caused by the agents used to mask the smell of tobacco.
For example, if you smoke a cigarette, you may use chewing gum, tea or coffee to mask the smoky breath and odour. This doubles the amount of damage caused.
For more good oral tips, contact a dentist in Claremont.
References:
http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=D&iid=184&aid=3806
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20045536