Maintaining good oral hygiene is necessary to keep teeth and gums healthy. Good oral health is also necessary to enjoy good overall health. Experts consider oral health issues to be a major burden on global health.
Having good oral health is not just a matter of visiting your dentist when you start developing major problems in your gums or have cavities. People can develop a host of dental problems that can cause pain, lead to issues with self-confidence, and even result in tooth loss. You can avoid having to deal with these painful and costly dental health problems by taking better care of your oral health.
This post will give you some tips to help you enjoy healthier teeth and gums so you can live a healthier life with a bright smile on your face.
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6 Tips To Enjoy Healthier Teeth and Gums
The following are some of the best practices that can help you keep your teeth and gums healthy.
1. Brush your teeth regularly (and properly!)
Brushing your teeth twice a day is a regular practice for most people. It keeps your teeth clean and healthy by removing bacteria and plaque, provided that you do it properly. Many people don’t realize that there is a technique to brush your teeth.
Brushing your teeth properly does not mean brushing too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush. These things can damage your enamel and injure your gums. Brushing too aggressively can even result in issues like permanent damage to the enamel, gum erosion, and tooth sensitivity.
Ideally, you should brush using a soft-bristled toothbrush in small circular motions instead of a saw-like motion. Make sure that you brush the front, back, and top of every tooth.
2. Floss every single day
Brushing your teeth can help you clean the front, back, and top of your teeth. However, the bristles do not reach the space between your teeth properly, and that’s where flossing comes in. Flossing once a day can be useful because it removes the plaque and bacteria from between your teeth. Flossing also removes the annoying food particles that get caught between the teeth.
Most dentists recommend that you floss your teeth regularly and gently all the way down to the gumline while hugging the side of the tooth with an up-and-down movement. Make sure you don’t floss too aggressively because you can risk damaging the gums.
3. Quit smoking
Smoking is an overall unhealthy practice and you should avoid it at all costs. Smoking damages your lungs and has a wide range of adverse effects on your body, including affecting your immune system. An unhealthy body cannot repair damaged tissues as effectively as it should, including the ones in your mouth.
Besides the damage to your health, smoking can also have an impact on how your teeth look. It can start staining your teeth and give them an unsightly yellow color along with bad breath. According to the ADA, smoking can also impact your sense of taste and smell, cause gum disease, and increase your risk of developing oral cancer.
Quitting smoking is the only way to decrease your risk of these health problems related to smoking.
4. Mouthwash is better than just for bad breath
Many people love using mouth wash from time to time, especially when they have bad breath problems. You should know that mouthwash can be good for more than just giving you a refreshing breath.
Certain mouthwash products can provide you with significant benefits for your oral health. For instance, a mouthwash containing chlorhexidine can help prevent gingivitis and control plaque buildup.
While mouthwash cannot replace the need to floss and brush your teeth, it can make these practices far more effective.
5. Reduce your sugary food intake
Many people already know that eating too much sugar is bad for their teeth and can lead to cavities. It goes without saying that avoiding too much sugar is good for your health. Sugary foods like candy and desserts promote cavities because the lingering particles in your mouth are the perfect food for acid-producing bacteria that can cause tooth decay and cavities.
Eating too many starch-rich foods also exposes you to similar risks because the starch particles can also break down into sugar particles that feed the harmful bacteria in your mouth. Consider reducing your sugar intake and increasing the amount of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. Avoid eating processed foods because they can also contain high sugar levels that can harm your dental health.
6. Visit your dentist every six months
One of the most important tips to ensure that you can enjoy healthier teeth and gums is to visit your dentist regularly. You should not make dental appointments only when you develop a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Prevention is always better than needing a cure.
Regular visits will mean that your dentist can prevent issues before they begin or catch them early by identifying the signs of major dental problems before they do too much damage. Scheduling regular visits also allow your teeth to get a thorough professional cleaning to remove any buildup of plaque and tartar.
There isn’t anyone better placed to keep you on top of your oral hygiene than a qualified dentist. They should always be your first port of call when it comes to concerns regarding your teeth and mouth.
The Santa Monica Center for Oral Surgery & Dental Implants has been serving the Santa Monica area for over 40 years, providing top-notch dental care services to ensure that everyone in the community can continue to enjoy healthier teeth and gums for a long time.
Caring for your teeth and gums is essential for a healthy smile and a healthy body. The team at Santa Monica OMS is here to guide you in the best ways to maintain your oral health and answer any questions you might have along the way.
Schedule your consultation with them today to get access to the best dental care you can get in Santa Monica.
