Top Teeth Care Tips You Must Live By
One of the most important parts of our body that we should take proper care of is our mouths. It is vital that we maintain good, if not an excellent, oral health as this can affect the way we interact with other people, and other people’s interaction with us. Poor oral hygiene can lead to bad breath, and bad breath may result to low self confidence.
The most basic way of caring for one’s teeth is through brushing and flossing. A person must brush his teeth at least twice a day, and should floss regularly to prevent accumulation of food debris and plaque in between teeth. Simple and thorough brushing and flossing can help effectively avoid dental problems. It is, however, necessary that one learns the proper way of tooth brushing. Doing it in the wrong way may reduce its effectiveness and may even cause damage to teeth and gums.
The use of mouthwash is also another good way of making sure the mouth is clean and odor-free. Mouth washes contain antiseptic that has the ability to kill bad bacteria in the mouth that can cause bad breath, tooth decay, and/or gingivitis. Regular use of mouthwash after brushing can greatly help in the defense against cavities.
In order to maintain good oral health, one must not only learn and practice proper oral habits, but should also be careful about his food choices. A balanced diet is one of the most effective way of keeping a healthy mouth and a healthy body. Reduction in the intake of sugary and starchy food advisable, since these are primary causes of caries and other dental problems.
Avoiding frequent snacking can also be beneficial to oral health. Snacking makes the teeth prone to decay. When a person eats, it is said that the pH level in his mouth increases and only goes down after eating. Therefore, having little meals between the major ones hinders the decrease of the acidity in the mouth. It is in this state of increased pH level that bacteria thrive, and they go to action by attacking the teeth and gums.
Another thing to avoid to keep your nice and healthy teeth and gums are cola and energy beverages. Cola actually contains phosphoric and citric acids which are known to have damaging effects on the teeth. Energy drinks may sound like a healthier choice, but they are in fact 11 times more harmful to the teeth and gums than cola. In addition to the phosphoric and citric acids that colas contain, energy drinks also have organic acid in their mixture, which can destroy the tooth calcium.
It is well known that smoking have bad effects on the teeth and over all oral health. It is wise to quit smoking as regular tobacco use causes smoker’s breath and stain the teeth. It can also damage the gums, or worse, lead to oral cancer. Oral piercing is also inadvisable because they may result to complication in the mouth such as allergic reactions, infections, nerve damage, and problems in the tongue and gums.
Preventing bad breath and keeping oneself orally healthy is actually easy. Proper oral hygiene is the best key. Brushing, flossing, eating and drinking healthy food choices, and staying away from vices are just very basic practices, but you can be amazed at their overall effect to one’s oral well being. Teenagers, especially, can make use of sugar free gums. Chewing them from time to time can help eradicate plaque fluid in the mouth, resulting to fresher breath and preventing tooth decay. Of course, regular visits to the dentist would be required as well. It is advisable to seek professional attention once every 3 to 6 months so that any oral problems can be diagnosed and remedied long before they get worse.