It is possible to maintain your set of teeth for a lifetime. There is no magic behind this outcome, just simple everyday oral care. Why oral care exceeds the most expensive of solutions is that it is a preventative approach.
- A daily oral care routine is the best solution against plaque build-up.
- Oral care significantly reduces tooth sensitivity and strengthens the enamel.
- It is the most satisfactory solution to having fresh breath.
- Oral care is a cheap way of having a healthy smile.
- Daily mouth hygiene prevents oral bacteria from invading other body parts because the enamel is intact and does not expose blood and nerves to the mouth bacteria.
- Oral health maximizes the pleasure of chewing, grinding, cutting, speaking, and smiling.
According to the World Health Organization, oral health is a principal indicator of general health, wellness, and quality of life. So many good things come out of good oral care. Perhaps understanding this phenomenon will foster the practice of oral care and enhance oral hygiene.
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What’s Oral Care
Oral care is the habit of keeping the mouth, teeth, gums, tongue, and lips clean. It is the best preventative approach against oral cavities, gum disease, tooth loss, mouth trauma, weakening jaws, and bad breath. Therefore, good oral health encompasses the entire oral and facial features.
Here are everyday tips to improve oral health without breaking the bank.
Use a Fluoride Toothpaste
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using fluoride toothpaste to prolong the health and strength of the teeth. Fluoride strengthens the enamel the outer white teeth layer comprising calcium and phosphate. Saliva constantly replenishes the enamel with its rich deposits of calcium and phosphate.
Despite the enamel’s stability, acids slowly erode it exposing the inner teeth layer. The acidity is a by-product of bacteria in the mouth as they consume food left in the mouth after meals. Fluoride forms a bond with calcium and phosphate, reinforcing the strength of the teeth.
Brush Teeth Twice a Day
Brushing twice every day keeps tartar from building up around the teeth. Tartar is the hardened substance that develops when plaque removal is not consistent. Only an orthodontist can remove tartar from teeth.
Brush the teeth in the morning and before bedtime to remove plaque when it is soft. Leaving it for long allows it to harden into tartar which settles below and above the gum line. The rough and porous substance slowly wears off the gum, creating a receding gum line. It also increases a person’s susceptibility to gum disease.
Watch What You Consume
Limit Alcoholic Intake
Alcohol like sugar and vinegar is acidic. It erodes the enamel exposing the nerves and blood vessels to the harsh mouth environment laden with unfriendly microbes.
Avoid Smoking
Tobacco from cigarettes weakens the gum by disrupting the gum-jaw bone cohesion. The disruption leave teeth loosely attached to the gum as others fall off. The disruption leaves loose gum tissue for bacteria to populate and destroy the remaining teeth through their activity in the mouth.
Limit Sugar and Fast Food Intake
Bacteria in the mouth break down sugar into acidic compounds that destroy the enamel. The same process occurs when a person over consumes Fast food. Fast foods have refined carbohydrates -these are simple sugars that get acted on by mouth micro-organisms.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Nutrition enables your body to get all the required nutrients for bodybuilding, fighting disease, and repairing worn-out tissues. Ensure your diet is rich in calcium, magnesium, fluoride, and phosphate because these minerals are essential for developing strong bones and teeth.
Ensure the Mouth Remains Moist
Saliva is essential in protecting the oral cavity. It provides phosphate and calcium to strengthen the enamel. It also washes away food particles lingering in the mouth as potential substrates for bacteria. Keep the mouth moist by drinking plenty of water to increase saliva flow.
If the dry mouth is from a condition such as diabetes, take the required steps to maintain moisture in the mouth. Dry mouth makes people with diabetes vulnerable to gum disease.
Stimulate saliva production by;
- Eating foods high in dietary fiber like fruits, vegetables, beet root, and celery.
- Drink the recommended dietary amount of water to maintain moisture in the mouth.
- Chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva production.
Visit a Dentist
Dental cleaning is definitely needed at least once annually, even when there are no prosthetic teeth. An orthodontic dental examination and cleaning remove plaque and tartar that everyday brushing and flossing cannot eliminate. It also gives you a clean slate to build an oral hygiene routine.
The best orthodontic services near you should provide the needed assessment and dental services at affordable rates. With regular flossing, there is no need for frequent visits.
Do not neglect the teeth. It is consistency that yields results. Remain disciplined throughout the course to begin to see positive outcomes of the endeavor. Once you have brushed, floss in between the teeth to eliminate the gunk that your brush bristles did not reach. Rinse the mouth with water to wash away any remaining food particles.
