Top Ways To Maintain Healthy Gums And Teeth
Your teeth and gums are one of the first things anyone will ever notice on you. The moment you smile, talk and react, your teeth and gums can give away the kind of hygiene you practice.
Oral hygiene is one of the most overlooked aspects of the body. Obviously, there’s brushing the teeth every morning and evening but this exercise can be insufficient if your teeth and gums are already damaged. To prevent your mouth from getting any disease and being damaged by acids, here are 6 simple and effective ways to keep it healthy.
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Floss
Most people think that brushing twice a day is enough. However, this is not enough because there are food particles that can be left between your teeth that bristles can’t remove. When you floss, you can make sure that nothing will be left in between your teeth.
This is a very important step because food particles can be converted to acids. These acids, in turn, damage your teeth by eating away at the enamel that protects your teeth. Once the enamel is damaged, it’s only a matter of time before your teeth start to decay. When this happens, the cost of repairing your teeth can be expensive.
To make sure you are doing it right, floss for 1-2 times a day after brushing.
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Use the right kind brush.
The right kind of brush is just as important as the number of times you actually brush your teeth. The right brush has fine bristles because they do not hurt your gums and they are able to go between the spaces of your teeth. If you will notice, a hard-bristled brush can often make your gums bleed. This is what you want to avoid. It is also important to know that you should change your toothbrush every 3 months to ensure that they are still in the best condition.
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Quit smoking.
Smoking is one of the culprits of tooth decay. When you frequently smoke, your gums become darker. Research also shows that the more you smoke, the more you are at risk of gum disease. Moreover, smoking weakens your mouth’s ability to protect itself from bacteria and acid. What makes this worse is that if you have already damaged your gums, it is a lot more difficult to repair it compared to your teeth. If you are looking for a reason to quit smoking, then this might be it.
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See a dentist.
While you can always search the internet for ways to care for your teeth, there is still no substitute for a dentist. Going to a dentist will help you understand the current state of your oral health and they can also prescribe something that is specific to your case.
As much as possible, visit your dentist 2-3 times every year to make sure that you get your teeth checked. Whether it’s just for cleaning or for readjusting your braces, your dentist will be able to help you get your oral hygiene better.
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Increase your use of fluoride.
Fluoride is always associated with oral hygiene simply because it helps prevent cavities and promotes healthy teeth and gums. Fluoride comes from fluorine and it is often found in a lot of dental products like tooth and gum tonic. Fluoride’s main purpose is to prevent tooth decay. It also helps ensure that your teeth and gums are strong and healthy.
Just recently, the World Health Organization recommended adding fluoride in the water supply. The United States has already implemented this and you can check the fluoride content of your water. Simply call your local government to ask about the fluoride content in the water.
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Avoid sweets and starch.
Last but not least is your diet. If you truly want to care for your teeth and gums, you have to start being proactive rather than reactive. To do this, you have to start with the food you eat.
Ever since you were a kid, you were always told that sweets damage the teeth. This is one of the main truths in the dental department. Eating too many sweets can damage the enamel on your teeth. When it stays in your mouth, it can also be converted to acids. So if you need to snack on something, try replacing your candies and chocolates with fruits and sugar-free biscuits.