Dental hygiene and good dental health can prevent gum disease and cavities and improve general health.
The consequences of untreated gum disease or tooth decay can include tooth loss, self-esteem issues, and pain. These disorders can lead to speech difficulties, malnutrition, other personal life, employment, or education difficulties.
Getting proper dental care from family dentistry in Shelby Township is the most effective way to avoid these issues and restore your nutrition and oral health.
Tips for Keeping Your Teeth Healthy
-
Brush regularly and not aggressively
Maintaining healthy teeth requires brushing twice a day to remove bacteria and plaque. Brushing, on the other hand, can be effective when done correctly.
Brush every tooth using small circular strokes on the back, top, and front. This procedure should take about two minutes, and you should avoid cutting back and forth between each tooth.
Tooth enamel and gums can be damaged using a toothbrush with harsh bristles or brushing too forcefully.
-
Use fluoride
An essential component of the earth’s soil is fluorine, which produces fluoride. It is believed that fluoride helps prevent cavities because it is present in mouthwash and toothpaste. Despite taking appropriate care of your teeth, low fluoride levels can lead to tooth decay.
-
Floss once a day
Flossing eliminates bacteria and plaque that a toothbrush can’t reach. Besides removing food and debris stuck between the teeth, it also helps to prevent bad breath.
Most dentists recommend gently pressing the floss down to the gumline before looping it up and down around the tooth’s side. In between the teeth, snapping the floss up and down might create pain and limit the effectiveness of plaque removal. It’s, therefore, crucial to avoid this practice.
-
Avoid smoking
Smoking damages your immune system, making it difficult for your body to heal tissues, including those in your mouth. Those who smoke have a greater likelihood of contracting gum disease, and they may experience slow healing following dental surgery.
In addition to yellowing the tongue and teeth, smoking causes an unpleasant smell to emanate from the mouth.
-
5. Limit sugar and starch consumption
Tooth decay is caused by sugar consumption. Hence, a sugar-heavy diet is detrimental to our health. Tooth decay can be exacerbated by starchy meals such as bread, crackers, pasta, and chips.
These meals decompose into simple sugars while they remain in the mouth. Simple carbohydrates feed acid-producing bacteria, which can cause tooth decay.