Proper oral hygiene should be an important part of your daily routine. Having gums and teeth allows you to eat well and enjoy the foods you love. Your oral care habits, such as brushing and flossing, can have a significant impact on your smile and your overall health.
Here are some basic dental care tips to help you keep your teeth strong and healthy for life:
- Start Early on Dental Hygiene
Despite every parent’s effort to prevent tooth decay in children, 1 in 4 children develops tooth decay even before school starts. By the time children reach 12 to 15 years old, half of their population have tooth cavities.
Dental care should start as soon as the eruption of their first tooth (around 6 months. Make sure to wipe your baby’s teeth with a clean, damp cloth or clean it using an extremely soft toothbrush designed for kids. Regular check ups with a Holistic dentist are advised.
For those that are already teens, adults, and seniors, it’s not too late to start taking care of your teeth. Be sure to check for a dental hygienist first, and let him/her know if you have dental implants Bradford, dentures, or braces.
- Brush Twice Daily
Brushing your teeth twice a day is probably the most popular dental tip we know, especially if you have dental implants by Dr Pamela Li. Do your best to brush every after every meal using a soft-bristled toothbrush for at least 2 minutes. The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) recommends using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Never brush your teeth aggressively, especially when using a hard-bristled brush to prevent enamel erosion. Furthermore, improper brushing technique can cause gum damage. When brushing your teeth, gently move the brush side to side at a 45-degrees angle to the gums.
- Floss Regularly
Unfortunately, brushing twice daily may not be sufficient to keep your teeth clean. Tiny food particles can get stuck between the teeth, which can eventually cause tooth decay and gum disease if not removed immediately. Flossing every day, especially after meals, can effectively clean tight spaces between your teeth.
- Rinsing or Chewing Sugar-Free Gum After Meals
If brushing and flossing are not possible, simply rinsing your mouth with a glass of water can help wash away the plaque-causing bacteria. Chewing sugar-free gum increases the flow of saliva, helping wash away oral bacteria and neutralize the acid in your mouth.
- Healthy Diet
You cannot underestimate the importance of a proper diet when it comes to oral health care. Too much sugar consumption can increase your risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease. While many people enjoy desserts, sodas, and fruit drinks, cutting down sugar, choose healthier snacks like fruits and cheese to fuel your body and protect your teeth. Also, eating a full meal can have lesser damage to your teeth than snacking since the mouth produces more saliva during a meal, washing the teeth free from food particles.
● Regular Dental Checkup and Cleaning
This is the last but also the most vital part of your dental health care regimen. Visiting a trusted dentist in Toronto, Ontario, every 6 months for a professional checkup and cleaning can help keep your teeth and gums healthy. Do not wait until you are in pain. Regular dental visits allow the dentist to detect potential problems before they flare into a painful condition. A thorough teeth cleaning can also make your smile cleaner, healthier, and brighter as it removes plaque and tartar off your teeth.
Images – Photo by Guilherme Almeida from Pexels
Photo by Ella Olsson from Pexels