Let's all agree that damaged and yellow teeth make us nervous to laugh out loud because they're quite embarrassing. Keeping a poor oral hygiene leads to a multiple number of dental as well as medical problems in the foreseeable future, poor oral hygiene can cause issues such as gum disease, bone loss, infection, strokes, heart disease and more. Here are a few oral care tips to help you maintain a healthy oral hygiene.
One of the easiest steps you can take to keep your teeth clean is brushing properly. While brushing your teeth the position the bristles should be approximately at an angle of 45 degrees near your gum line. Both your gum line as well as your tooth surface should be in contact with the bristles of your toothbrush. Brush the outer surfaces of your teeth using a back and forth, up and down motion, keeping sure that you do it gently in order to stay away from gum bleeding.
To clean the inner surfaces of your teeth and gums, place the bristles again at approximately a 45-degree angle and repeat the back and forth, up and down motion. Finally, brush the surfaces of your tongue with a tongue cleaner and the roof of your mouth lightly with your toothbrush to remove bacteria that might cause bad breath.
Try to brush at least twice a day to steer clear of acid buildup caused by the breakdown of food by the bacteria present in your mouth. If in any case you are unable to do this, try to thoroughly rinse your mouth with water after you're done eating to minimize the amount of food debris that serves as a substrate for bacteria.
Flossing helps you to remove food particles and other substances which are left behind after your meals that your brush often fails to get. Flossing enables you to reach deep between your teeth where your toothbrush bristles are not able to reach (no matter what the tv advertisements claim) and even your mouthwash cannot wash away. Try to floss at least once a day for better care of your teeth and gums.
It is important to clean the surface of your tongue every day while brushing. By using a professional tongue cleaner you can remove a countless number of bacteria that otherwise live and multiply particularly on the rougher top surface of your tongue. These can cause you to have bad breath (also known as halitosis) and negatively affect your dental and oral health.
Despite the popular misconception, mouthwash is not as important as flossing and not all mouthwashes are beneficial for you. Mouthwashes which contain Listerine (or chlorine dioxide) are helpful because they aid in killing and maintaining the bacteria present in your mouth. It can help maintain pleasant breath as well as help in strengthening your teeth.
Proper step by step directions to use mouthwash include firstly, before using a mouthwash, brush and floss your teeth. Secondly, measure the proper amount of rinse recommended on the back of the container or by your dentist and with closed lips keep your teeth slightly apart, swish liquid around your mouth. Finally, after rinsing it properly for about thirty seconds spit out the liquid.
Do not rinse or eat or smoke for almost thirty minutes after using a mouthwash. Not following the thirty minutes routine will hamper the effects of the mouthwash.
There are two categories of mouthwashes one is cosmetic (over-the-counter) and the other kind is prescribed by your dentist. Both products are basically meant to help get rid of oral debris before or after you brush your teeth. Mouthwashes provide a pleasant taste in your mouth and temporary relief from bad breath while diminishing harmful bacteria present in your mouth. Therapeutic mouth rinses are prescribed by a dentist and usually, contain active ingredients that protect against oral diseases. Mouthwash is an added benefit and cannot do all the work, but if already brush, floss, visit the dentist and eat well, mouthwash will prove to be the cherry on top that will make your oral health great.
Chewing a sugar-free gum after meals can aid in your overall oral hygiene by increasing the flow of saliva. Saliva naturally washes away the excess bacteria and neutralizes the acid. In addition to brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth with mouthwash or an antibacterial rinse in a regular routine to help prevent gum problems and decay you can simply chew a gum after meals. It's a quick and easy hack for you're the betterment of your oral hygiene.
Do a huge favour to your teeth and gums by avoiding smoking or chewing tobacco. Firstly, it will prevent you from facing the risk of periodontal complications and oral cancer. Secondly, it will surely save you from the numerous bad effects caused by the agents that are used to mask the smell of tobacco. For instance, when you smoke a cigarette you tend to drink tea or coffee or suck on a candy to mask the smoky smell on your breath and the unattractive odor. This enhances the amount of damage caused.
Although all of these beverages consist of a high level of phosphorous, which is an important mineral for a healthy mouth but an excess of phosphorous can deplete your body's level of calcium. This causes problems in your dental hygiene, issues such as gum disease and tooth decay. Beverages containing additives like corn syrup and food dye may make your pearly white teeth appear discolored and dull. Therefore, it is better to go for beverages such as milk instead, as it helps strengthen your teeth and build resistant enamel, providing you a healthy and beautiful smile along with water which keeps you body hydrated longer than sugary drinks.
You require plenty of calcium-rich diet for strengthening your teeth. It is not just important for your teeth but it is equally essential for your bones. It is always better to drink milk daily; other sources of calcium are fortified orange juice, yogurt, broccoli, cheese, and almost all dairy products. You can also consume calcium supplements, be mindful of taking different doses with regard to your age and necessity as per prescription.
Vitamin D and calcium are necessary for the maintenance of the health of your gums and teeth. Vitamin B complex is also vital for the protection of your gums and teeth from gum bleeding and cracking. Other essential nutrients required for maintaining a healthy dental hygiene include copper, iron, zinc, iodine, and potassium.
A large number of children between the ages of 12 and 15 have cavities. Caryn Solie (RDH, president of the American Dental Hygienists' Association) told WebMD that "dental care should begin as soon as a child's first tooth appears, usually around six months". Little children's teeth can be wiped with either a clean, damp cloth or a very soft brush. When kids are about two years old, you can let them try brushing by themselves but under parent's or any other adult's supervision.
The biggest advance you will receive from anyone or anywhere in oral health is to use toothpaste that consists of fluoride as an ingredient. It strengthens the enamel, making it less likely be prone to decay. You can drink fluoridated water, if your water is not fluoridated, you can ask your dentist or a dental professional, who would probably suggest putting a fluoride application on your teeth.
Besides that, many toothpastes and mouthwash also contain this wondrous ingredient. Fluoride should be used carefully with young children - no more than just a tiny pea-sized dab on the toothbrush. An excess of fluoride can cause white spots to appear on your teeth.
It is known all over the worlds and you've probably known it since you were a kid, when your mom wouldn't let you have more than one chocolate a day. Regular consumption of sugary foods and beverages is not good for your teeth even if you occasionally indulge in drowning yourself in a bucket of ice cream or having huge chunks of cake can have negative effects on your dental and oral health.
Sugary drinks are widely known as one of the most common dietary reasons of tooth decay. When you consume sugary drinks or foods the sugar latches on to your teeth. The bacteria that are usually present inside your mouth feed on the sugar that these drinks leave behind. However, as the bacteria consume all the sugar, it begins to create acid. And in due time the acid begins to rot some of the enamel on your teeth. This ends up making your teeth thinner and weaker. As soon as the enamel starts weakening, the likelihood of you developing cavities becomes much greater.
No matter how old you are a healthy diet is vital for healthy gums and teeth. A well-balanced diet including whole foods such as grains, nuts, vegetables & fruits, and dairy products will provide you with all the nutrients you need in order to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
If you wear a denture or a bridge, you must clean it thoroughly at least once a day or as suggested by your dentist. If you have a mouth guard or dental retainer, remember to clean it each time before you put it in your mouth. Do not use toothpaste to clean your dentures, it can scratch the surface and cause stains. Try cleaning your dentures using soap and lukewarm water, a denture cleaning tablet or denture cream. Your dentist will recommend the best cleaning product.
Extra virgin olive oil is composed of oleic acid and other flavonoids which are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in nature. If you experience inflammation of gums along with pyorrhea then extra virgin olive oil can be one of the best home treatments.
Take a spoonful of extra virgin olive oil and add a drop of peppermint oil or tea tree oil for freshness and swish around your mouth for just a couple of seconds and then spit it out. This will wash away all the toxins stuck on your gums.
Oil pulling is an amazing oral detoxification method that has gained considerable popularity in the United States in the last several years. Oil pulling has been used in ancient ayurvedic medicine since ages. You can simply do it by swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth for about 20 minutes. This extremely simple oral detoxification method has been praised for healing almost everything from headaches to gingivitis systemic diseases such as diabetes. If you find 20 minutes too long and you feel like you cannot do it, then four to five minutes would be good enough.
Try using coconut oil and add a drop or two of tea tree and/or clove essential oils for maximum antifungal and antiseptic power. The best time to try oil pulling is by making it the first thing in the morning immediately after you get out of bed.
Right after swishing the oil mix for as long as you can, rinse your mouth with warm water. You can use salt water for added antimicrobial benefits. Don't worry if the oil mixture that you spit out is slightly milky white or yellow in colour. Lastly, brush your teeth normally.
Keep in mind that this process should be somewhat relaxing and is not to be done in a hurry. So don't feel compelled to swish the oil vigorously in your mouth for the entire time, this might tire you making it impossible to keep going on for 20 minutes, also, you would be bound to get sore jaw muscles. Gently move the oil all over your mouth and through your teeth without swallowing any of it.
By now you understand that you must take care of your teeth in order to avoid toothaches, maintain your flawless smile and keep high dental bills at bay. It's disappointing that many people still don't realize how crucial oral health is to their entire health picture. Tooth problems can lead to serious diseases such as diabetes, systemic infections, heart diseases, inability to eat or speak properly and other maladies - some even life-threatening! Crooked and crowded teeth can contribute to gum disease that eventually leads to tooth loss. Straight teeth are not only for looks.
Hi! I’m Gunjan, a self-proclaimed tea fanatic and intrigued with alternative ways to lead a healthy life. I firmly believe that we should take care of our bodies because it’s the only place we live in.
