Good oral health allows you to speak, eat and express emotions with ease. It also helps you maintain a balanced diet.
Maintaining good oral health is not just about brushing and flossing — it’s about the lifestyle choices you make. Here are 12 ways to improve your oral health today: 1. Drink Plenty of Water.
1. Brush Daily
Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time removes plaque, a sticky colorless film of bacteria that causes tooth decay and gum disease. It also removes surface stains, such as those from coffee and tea.
Your mouth teems with bacteria, most of which are harmless, but if you have certain health conditions, such as respiratory problems or a weak immune system, this bacteria can spread and cause serious infections.
Brushing daily removes this bacterial buildup and improves your breath, but it is not enough on its own to maintain good oral health. You must also floss, which removes food particles and bacteria that your toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing can help prevent gum disease, improve your smile, and reduce your risk of heart attack. It can also prevent cavities and staining of the enamel, as well as halitosis (bad breath). Start with these habits today. They will soon become second nature.
2. Floss Daily
The little bits of food and gunk that get stuck between your teeth are a big danger to your smile. These pieces can damage your teeth over time and lead to gum disease. Consistent flossing can remove up to 80% of these particles.
In addition to keeping your breath fresh, flossing can prevent the development of periodontitis or other serious gum diseases. It can also eliminate the bacteria that cause bad odors in your mouth.
If you’re struggling to get into the habit of flossing, try integrating it into your morning or nighttime routine. Once it becomes a part of your routine, it’ll be easier to remember to do every day.
3. Get Regular Checkups
Getting regular checkups can help detect oral health problems, such as tooth decay and gum disease, in their early stages. This helps prevent them from worsening and makes them easier to treat with a dental cleaning or other treatment.
It is important to see a doctor regularly, especially for people who have a history of illness or who are taking medications. For example, it is a good idea to get blood pressure checks every two years for people over 18. It is also a good idea to have a skin test done on a regular basis. This can help catch early signs of skin cancer and other diseases.
Good oral health is important because it allows us to enjoy life. It lets us speak clearly; eat, taste, touch and convey emotions through our face; and it protects our overall health. Check out PDC Marion reviews and more when you click on this link.
4. Change Your Diet
Eating a well-balanced diet can do wonders for your teeth and gums. Avoid sugary foods and drinks because they promote tooth decay. Instead, choose nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins.
Limit snacking between meals to reduce the amount of time your teeth are exposed to acids. During larger meals, saliva is produced more quickly, helping to wash away food particles and neutralize harmful acid.
Also, eat more raw fruits and vegetables to stimulate saliva production, as opposed to dried fruit which can cling to teeth and cause decay. Try using low-fat dairy products as a source of calcium, phosphates and vitamin D to help strengthen your teeth. These are found in milk, yogurt and some cheeses. Also, try to include more potassium-rich foods, such as bananas and mushrooms. These are beneficial to your oral health and overall well-being.
5. Avoid Smoking
Smoking is linked to gum disease, tooth loss and oral cancer. It also stains teeth and causes bad breath. Eliminating this habit will greatly improve your oral health.
Find healthier ways to satisfy your cravings for nicotine. Try sugarless gum, hard candy or mints, or munch on celery or other low-calorie snacks to distract yourself. Keep water or another healthy drink at hand so you can hydrate between sips. Make a conscious effort to avoid places and people where smoking is common.
If smoking is a stress reliever, replace that behavior with other healthier activities such as yoga, deep breathing or meditation. Find other ways to quickly calm yourself when stressed or anxious, such as playing with a pet, taking a walk, or reciting soothing mantras. Set short-term quitting goals and reward yourself when you meet them.
6. Get a Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is an important part of oral care because it helps protect teeth from decay. It is found in most water supplies and in toothpaste, and it also comes in the form of mouth rinses and supplemental tablets that can be taken by mouth.
Professional fluoride treatments are high-concentration solutions that a dentist or dental hygienist applies to a patient’s teeth in the office. These treatments may take the form of gel, foam, or varnish.
Everyone benefits from having fluoride treatments regularly, especially those with a higher risk of cavities. These include people with dry mouth conditions who have trouble producing saliva, those with braces and dental crowns that are harder to keep clean, and the elderly. Fluoride treatments help improve the remineralization process, which makes the tooth enamel stronger and less susceptible to decay. Fluoride treatments also help reduce sensitivity and prevent gum disease.
7. See Your Dentist Regularly
Even if you take great care of your teeth and avoid sugary foods, you still need to go to the dentist for regular dental cleanings. There are a lot of benefits to doing this, including preventing serious oral health problems and catching them early.
If you don’t see the dentist regularly, it can be easy to overlook warning signs such as a dry mouth or bad breath, which are often the first symptoms of gum disease or cavities. These conditions can become incredibly painful and difficult to treat if they aren’t treated early on.
The American Dental Association recommends visiting your dentist every six months. However, some people may need to visit more frequently, such as pregnant women, smokers or those with a weak immune system. If you’re unsure of how often you should visit your dentist, ask them for advice.
8. Take Care of Your Gums
Taking care of your gums is one of the most important things you can do for your oral health. Gums help keep teeth in place and create a seal that protects more sensitive tissues inside your mouth. Gums also give your smile a healthy appearance and help you feel good about yourself.
If your gums become unhealthy, it can cause gingivitis. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease and it affects your mouth by causing plaque buildup. Plaque is a thin, sticky coating of bacteria that irritates the gum tissue and makes it red and bleed easily.
Unhealthy gums can lead to more serious problems like periodontitis, which impacts the bones and tissue that hold your teeth in place. The good news is that gum disease can be prevented with a combination of proper dental hygiene and diet.
9. Get Your Teeth Polished
The mouth teems with bacteria, most of which are harmless. But your mouth is also the entry point to the digestive and respiratory tracts, where some of these bacteria can cause disease.
Regular dental cleanings and teeth polishing can help you avoid these infections. During the former, a dentist or hygienist uses hand instruments to remove soft biofilm on your tooth surfaces, reducing plaque buildup.
Polishing, on the other hand, removes stains from your teeth and makes them look shiny and white. It is a cosmetic procedure and should not replace your daily brushing.
Most polishers use a rubber cup with a special paste, and some even have flavored options, such as mint, berry, or orange. A prophy jet is another type of polisher that uses a water and baking soda mixture. Both methods leave a smooth surface, making it harder for biofilm to cling to your teeth.
10. Schedule an Appointment with Your Dentist
Oral health is a state of healthy teeth, gums and mouth that contributes to overall wellness. It is essential for self-confidence and quality of life. Poor oral hygiene has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and pregnancy complications.
If you’re experiencing a toothache that lasts more than one or two days, seek dental treatment immediately. Putting off a dental issue can lead to more serious issues down the road, like a root canal.
For families, it’s best to schedule dental appointments in the summer and winter break periods to ensure the whole family can see a dentist. It’s also helpful for parents to find a dentist that accommodates their children’s school schedule. Inform the office if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. This allows them to fill the time slot with another patient. The sooner a receptionist is made aware, the more convenient it will be for everyone involved.
