Tips to Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy
Many people all over the world want to have healthy teeth and gums. But the problem is that most of them don’t know how to take care of their oral cavities properly. For example, some people don’t maintain proper oral hygiene while others smoke and eat junk foods daily. If you don’t pay enough attention to your oral care, it is not surprising that the condition of your teeth and gums can be unsatisfactory. That’s why we have gathered these four effective tips on how to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
1. Brush and floss your teeth thoroughly
A thorough tooth brushing and flossing routine is essential to keep your teeth and gums healthy. You should understand that there are thousands of bacteria that inhabit your oral cavity. If you don’t remove them regularly, they multiply and lead to the development of various oral issues. The most common of them are:
- Bad breath
- Tooth decay
- Tooth discoloration
- Gum recession
- Enamel erosion
- Gum disease
- Teeth sensitivity
Even though most people brush their teeth, many of them don’t use dental floss. However, flossing is an extremely important part of oral hygiene. When food particles and dental plaque accumulate between your teeth, only floss can remove them. That’s why you need to brush your teeth twice a day and use dental floss at least once a day.
2. Pay attention to your diet
It is important to understand that the foods and drinks you consume day by day can also affect the condition of your teeth and gums. For example, people who drink a lot of black coffee can have dark and sensitive teeth. This is because coffee contains tannins and acids that stain and wear out your tooth enamel. If you can’t live without coffee, try to limit its consumption or at least have it with milk.
Fortunately, there are a lot of foods and drinks that can improve the condition of your oral cavity. For example, diary products, nuts, and seeds contain calcium that can strengthen your teeth and bones. Fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens are full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Oily fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and phosphorus that help protect your teeth and gums, as well as improve your overall health.
3. Get rid of bad habits
Unfortunately, most of us have certain bad habits. Smoking is deemed one of the most harmful bad habits that can affect not only your oral cavity but also significantly worsen your overall health. Smokers are more prone to bad breath, gum disease, tooth discoloration, and other oral issues.
All the common bad habits include alcohol consumption, nail-biting, gnawing ice cubes, nibbling hard objects, teeth grinding, having a sweet tooth, and coffee addiction. You should understand that these bad habits are quite dangerous. So if you want to have healthy teeth and gums, you should get rid of them as soon as possible.
4. Visit your dentist on a regular basis
Many people believe that there is no reason to visit a dentist if they don’t experience any symptoms of oral issues. The truth is that many conditions can develop asymptomatically or cause mild and even unnoticeable symptoms.
Only a dentist can easily define the early signs of most oral issues. Timely and accurate treatment can help improve your condition and prevent the development of severe complications. That’s why it is essential to visit a dentist twice a year for an examination even if you think that your teeth and gums are healthy.
The bottom line
It is important to understand that it is much easier to prevent oral issues rather than treat them. You just need to maintain proper oral hygiene, follow a healthy diet, get rid of bad habits, and visit your dentist on a regular basis.
