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5 Steps To Healthy Teeth And Gums

Your mouth could potentially be a breeding ground for thousands of bacteria, which is why maintaining your oral cavity in good condition is essential to overall health. In worst cases, the bacteria in your mouth can cause inflammation and infections that affect the rest of the body and cause severe problems like heart disease or even death.

As such, proper oral care is essential not only to ensure long-term health for your teeth and gums but also to prevent potential dental diseases that could cause greater pain and complications. Aside from this, a healthy mouth can make you feel good about yourself since it will be difficult to feel confident when your teeth and gums aren’t in the best shape.

So if you want to keep smiling for years, it is important to start and maintain a dental care routine that will keep your oral cavity in good condition. Here are five basic routines that you need to practice regularly to improve and maintain the health of your teeth and gums:

1. Brush Your Teeth Properly

Proper and regular brushing of the teeth is crucial for good oral health, making it a must-have in your daily routine. Make sure you use a Plaque Removal Toothpaste because it combats plaque at the molecular level, giving you a near-professional cleaning experience with each brushing session.

You should brush your teeth at least twice daily, but doing it after every meal or snack is even better. Use a soft bristle brush that allows for good coverage of all surfaces of the teeth, including the back, then brush for at least two minutes, cleaning each section for about 30 seconds.

2. Floss Daily To Clean The Areas That Your Brush Cannot Reach

Food particles can get stuck in areas where toothbrushes may not reach effectively, such as between your teeth and under the gumline. These trapped food particles could breed bacteria over time, which eventually results in issues like bad breath, cavities, and tooth decay. Flossing helps prevent these from happening by removing the food particles in the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth.

Thus, it is best that you floss after brushing your teeth or at least do it once a day, preferably before bedtime. To floss correctly, wind a fresh strip of floss around all fingers on one hand, holding it taut between two fingers with about an inch of floss extending beyond each tip. Holding it this way will keep tension on the string as you clean surfaces between your teeth.

3. Maintain A Healthy Diet That Promotes Good Oral Health

While a healthy diet is needed to support overall wellness, it is also crucial in maintaining good oral hygiene. Fruits and vegetables, in particular, are high in essential vitamins and minerals that keep your teeth strong and healthy. They also contain fibers that cleanse the mouth by scraping off bacteria from the surface of the teeth.

Additionally, drinking plenty of water and limiting the intake of sugar and acidic foods can also help maintain good oral health. Ideally, you should also consume a variety of foods from each major food group, including low-fat dairy products, lean meats, other sources of proteins, and whole grains.

4. Avoid Sugary Foods Like Candy, Soda, And Other Junk Foods

Sugary and junk foods can damage your teeth and gums in several ways. Firstly, the sugar in these foods is broken down by bacteria in your mouth, producing acids that can erode tooth enamel, eventually leading to cavities and tooth decay as well as increasing the likelihood of gum inflammation and infections.

Moreover, consuming high quantities of junk food can significantly increase the chances of diabetes, which in turn causes dental problems. Starchy foods, often found in junk food, can also damage your teeth, as they can stick to your teeth and provide a breeding ground for bacteria. By limiting your intake of sugary foods, you can maintain a healthier oral environment and prevent their harmful effects on your teeth and gums.

5. Visit Your Dentist Regularly For Cleanings, Exams, And Professional Advice

You might think that dental visits are only meant to keep your teeth white and your gums healthy. But while consistent check-ups and cleanings do contribute to excellent oral health by preventing tooth decay and gum disease, these are not the only reasons to see your dentist regularly.

Dentists play a role not just in resolving issues but in preventing them as well. For example, they can detect potential concerns such as the beginning of gum disease and tooth decay. A simple screening test performed by your dentist can also identify lesions in your mouth, neck, and tongue that might be precancerous areas requiring further attention. As such, being proactive in your oral health is crucial, and regularly visiting your dentist ensures that any issues are identified and addressed early on.