Six Hygiene Tips for Healthy Teeth & Gums

Healthy teeth and gums are nothing short of a blessing in disguise. A great deal of effort throughout your life goes into maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Oral hygiene is as, if not more, crucial as other types of personal hygiene. To the layman, oral hygiene solely means brushing your teeth regularly. But there’s more to it than meets the eye. It’s not entirely about cavities and weak gums. According to medical research, your overall health has a connection to your oral health in one way or another.

Not caring for any part of your body, especially the sensitive ones can have you regretting it all. Poor oral care can lead to minor problems like your teeth going yellow to consequential ones like tooth decay, bloody gums, and ultimately the loss of a tooth or more.

On that note, here are some highly beneficial tips for healthy teeth and gums.

See a dentist frequently.

There is no better way to get to the root of all oral problems, quite literally, than by seeing a dentist. By visiting one, you can locate, identify, and treat all your mouth-related problems and even stop them before they worsen and become agonizing for you. Dentists also help with oral beautification through procedures like teeth whitening. All you need to do is search online for the right one. For example, if you’re in Brisbane, Australia, some of the best dental beautification facilities are here. Search for “teeth whitening Brisbane” online to find the right dental care specialist near you.

A visit to the dentist means they’ll do a routine examination of your teeth. If you get scaling done, the dentist will clean and bring them back to their original, pristine condition while removing built-up plaque. Dentists can detect early signs and symptoms of mouth-related diseases and inform you about them before they become unbearably painful. In addition, studies suggest that children and teenagers should visit the dentist at least bi-annually to avoid new and remove existing cavities.

Brush properly

Perhaps everyone knows that brushing at least twice daily is the bare minimum your teeth demand of you. That’s because brushing twice allows for the removal of any freshly built-up plaque, tartar, and bacteria. But it all comes down to how you brush your teeth. Most people scrub their teeth in the most basic, back-of-the-mill way: back and forth movements. Dentists worldwide are adamant about people brushing their teeth in circular, clockwise, and anticlockwise motion. Although this method may initially be difficult to adapt, it’s more helpful. Unfortunately, the health of your toothbrush also affects your teeth and gums. Rigorous brushing and a hard-bristled toothbrush can severely harm your enamel and gums. Remember that the enamel is irreparable, so you must go the extra mile to care for it. Change your brush every three months and use only soft-bristled brushes.

Floss once a day

Brushing is only the first bit of cleaning; flossing is equally necessary, if not more. There are multiple spots between your teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t enter. That’s where dental floss comes in. Flossing removes newly built plaque and bacteria from these spaces between the teeth. Flossing requires skills, as not doing it properly can badly hurt your gums and leave you in pain.

Use a mouthwash

Recent studies have shown that mouthwashes can be more beneficial than you know. One of the ingredients, chlorhexidine, is an antibacterial that can kill bacteria and tone down plaque. Consult with your dentist about which mouthwash suits you best.

Moreover, be sure to see whether it contains fluoride, as a lack of it leads to rapid tooth decay. Nowadays, even water has a certain percentage of fluoride for stronger teeth and avoidance of tooth decay. Lastly, do not, for even a moment, think this is a substitute for brushing and flossing. It’s just the icing on the cake, nothing more! Flossing and brushing were, are, and always will be indispensable.

Avoid smoking

You might have heard that smoking harms and badly affects all other parts of your body and aspects of life, but it also attacks your whole mouth. Smoking can alter and slow the maintenance and recovery processes of all body parts, including your gums. Smoking drastically weakens your gums and also affects the way your mouth looks. Smoking makes your teeth yellow enough for anyone to notice, which is a major turnoff. If you don’t smoke, keep it that way forever. That’s one of the best things you can do for yourself. If you do, it’s never too late to stop slowly but surely.

Avoid sugar

Sugar and all its forms are the most prominent contributing factors to cavities in people of all ages. From your gums and teeth to your digestive organs, sugar targets them all. Limit sugar intake to counter all the dreaded problems that might arise because of this sweet devil. Entirely giving up on sweet items would take away the sweetness of life, which is why enjoying them in small amounts is the best way to go about it.

Starch-filled foods like bread, etc., are also contributors. You can’t eliminate these items from your diet, but try to substitute them with healthier options whenever possible.

Not to forget, soft drinks and other sweet beverages are the primary sources of sugar entering your bloodstream. Dental associations worldwide recommend substituting sugary drinks with water or avoiding adding sugar. Have tea or coffee without sugar, avoid juices rich in artificial sugars, etc.

Conclusion

Good oral hygiene is imperative. You might have thought that all you need to do is brush your teeth, and you’re good to go. But, if you have faced tooth pains resulting from bad hygiene habits, only then can you only understand the importance of good oral hygiene.

Healthy gums and teeth are a prerequisite if you want to enjoy all the foods without worrying about cavities, root canals, and tooth extractions. By taking care of your mouth, you can also care for your overall health. The tips above can help you have that toothy smile without compromising on life’s goodies.