5 Simple But Effective Oral Health Practices
A smile says a lot about a person. It is not just about the happiness one has, but the overall health of a person can be shown through someone’s smile. The aging process is already hard in of itself, why make it worse by not taking care of your teeth and all your oral hygiene? There are now more studies and documentations that show taking care of one’s mouth early in life can and even will prevent more medical issues later in life. “For every once of prevention, there is a pound of cure.” By: Unknown
1. Brushing Teeth
This seems to be the most obvious, but understand, there can be people who are not properly trained to brush their teeth or they just do not do it as often. According to researchers, brushing a minimum of twice a day and after eating will help get rid of any unwanted food in the mouth and help prevent any plaque build up. Most dentists or dental hygienists suggest brushing for approximately a minute to clean more effectively. In the western world, most schools will teach children about brushing their teeth, however, the rest of the world may not be so lucky. Do not make excuses as to why you go to bed without brushing; do it so your older self will thank you.
2. Flossing
Even more so, flossing seems to be a no-brainer for many people. Truly ask yourself, do I floss everyday or do I wait until my gums are bloody when I floss? Obviously, if you answered the latter, than flossing more would be beneficial to your oral care. Even using toothpicks can complete the task of what floss does, but you must do the whole mouth. Floss everyday, especially right before bed, this way the plaque does not continue to build from food particles and become too hard to get out between the teeth where a visit to he dentist is the only cure.
3. Staying Away from Certain Food and Drink
All medical professionals will agree with one thing, too much sugar is bad for your health. This includes mouth care. Too many sugary drinks can lead to tooth decay which can result in cavities, crowns and even dentures later in life. Too much sugar strips the enamel away from the teeth and over time will wear them out, furthering the problems of the oral hygiene. High acid is another element to steer away from as it also strips enamel, so limit the amount of fruit juices. Anything with a lot of stickiness to it such as toffee should be eaten sparingly since it may not come off with a simple brushing. Do not chew on ice. This may not cause gingivitis, or cavities, but this could chip a tooth which consists of an emergency dental appointment and future fractures as well. Wine and darker alcohol can lead to drying the mouth out. Limit the amount of consumption and during the drinking would be a good time to have water and brush your teeth after.
4. No Smoking
Do not smoke. There is absolutely no medical or health benefit. The United States has come a long way from the 1950’s when people thought smoking was not harmful. Smoking is one of the leading causes of diseases of the mouth. If you smoke already, quit.
5. Mouthwash and In Between Meals
Mouthwash used after a brushing or during the day when there is no access to a toothbrush or floss is always a good idea. It does not replace brushing or flossing but it does help lower the amount of plaque in the mouth. Making this a habit in between meals can also help refresh the mouth after a long day of eating and drinking.
All of these can be habit forming and overall not as expensive as the bill would be at the dentist’s office for a small amount of work like a filling. More importantly, taking care of the body, specifically the mouth you have now, can and will prevent lots of frustration and other medical problems in the future.
