 |
| Tips for Healthy Teeth And Gums |
Everyone wants to have white, healthy, and clean teeth. Maintaining oral health is no less important than caring for the health of other organs! Teeth are one of the important organs in the human body. Without teeth, food will be difficult to digest or even difficult to swallow. Pain in teeth and gum can disturb your daily activities. Tooth decay will certainly be very annoying when we are going to eat and damage our smile. Not to mention if your teeth come out, your appearance will not be attractive anymore. In fact, caring for oral health is relatively easy to do compare to treating other organs. To get healthy teeth, you need care and pay attention to our daily habits. Even if you already have good teeth, it's important to take care to prevent the risk of developing dental problems.
Reasons to keep your teeth and healthy gum are:
1. Maintain a sparkling smile
2. Being able to chew a good nutritive food
3. Avoid toothache and discomfort.
Research suggests that unhealthy teeth and diseased gums can lead to other health problems including increased risk of heart disease. According to the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA), about three-fourth teenagers are suffering from gum bleeding problems. Fortunately, there are a number of easy ways to keep your teeth strong and healthy from childhood to old age.
Maintaining healthy teeth and mouth can actually be done in simple ways without requiring expensive treatment. Here are some easy ways that can be applied to take care of your oral health and to maintain healthy teeth to stay healthy.
The mouth has a temperature of 98.6F (37C). Warm and wet, and filled with food particles and bacteria. This is a good environment for plaque to appear. When it forms, it hardens, forming tartar on your teeth. Dental plaque not only irritates your gums, but it can also cause gum disease and cause bad breath. Make sure to brush in the morning to help get rid of the plaque that built up overnight.
· Don't brush too much
If you brush your teeth more than twice a day, for more than four minutes, you can damage the enamel that protects your teeth. When tooth enamel is lost, a layer of dentin will appear. Dentin has small holes that lead to nerve endings. This layer is what makes you feel pain when triggered by something that hits it.
· Do not brush your teeth too hard
Do not get in the habit of brushing your teeth too hard. Brushing your teeth hard does give us a sense of satisfaction. We will feel 100 percent of our mouths and teeth free of plaque and food debris. However, scrubbing too hard can stress the gum tissue a lot and actually cause it to loosen, exposing some of the roots of the teeth. This area is very sensitive to heat and cold. Tooth roots are also more prone to cavity formation than the harder parts of tooth enamel. Brushing teeth too hard can also put a lot of stress on the teeth and affect the enamel. Enamel is strong enough to protect teeth from everything that goes on in your mouth, from eating and drinking to starting the digestive process. However, children and adolescents still have softer enamel than adults do, so they are more prone to cavities and erosion from food and drink. Do not be too hasty in cleaning your teeth; brush your teeth gently and in a circular pattern to remove plaque on your teeth.
2. Select the Appropriate Toothbrush -
Another factor to
consider when maintaining oral health is the choice of a toothbrush. The
American Dental Association (ADA) recommends using a toothbrush that has soft
bristles and replaces the
toothbrush as soon as the bristles get damaged. Curled or dull bristles can
harm teeth. Brushing using a hard toothbrush can damage the enamel
and gums. The effects of this may include tooth sensitivity, permanent
deterioration of the protective enamel, and gum erosion. The toothbrush should fit in our mouth comfortably, a smaller
brush head is better. Switch to an electric toothbrush. The
rotating motion of the electric toothbrush head can remove plaque on your teeth
more efficiently than a regular toothbrush. Make sure you choose an electric toothbrush
that is comfortable to hold, easy to use and has a rotating head.
3. Change Toothbrush Regularly -
Changing toothbrushes regularly is something that is often overlooked. You may rarely change your toothbrush until the bristles are damaged irregularly. In fact, damaged and still used brush bristles will actually damage your teeth, instead of cleaning the dirt between your teeth. Therefore, regularly replace the toothbrush that you use every day. As per the American Dental Association (ADA), everyone should change his or her toothbrush in every 3 months or when the tips start to look worn.
4. Use Fluoride Toothpaste -
Another way to maintain dental health is to use toothpaste that contains fluoride. When looking for toothpaste, there are more important elements to look for than whitening or flavor. Whichever version you choose, make sure the toothpaste contains fluoride. Fluoride is a substance that is a mainstay in oral health. As fluoride is the main defense against tooth decay. Fluoride works by fighting germs that can cause decay, as well as providing protection for your teeth. Many experts consider that fluoride helps prevent cavities and it is a common ingredient in toothpaste and mouthwash. However, some suggest that a deficiency in fluoride can cause tooth decay. Recently found that brushing and flossing do not prevent a person from cavities if they are not using fluoride. Use enough, but not too much fluoride, as too much fluoride can cause white spots on the teeth. Remember everyone certainly has his or her own tooth sensitivity. Therefore, use toothpaste that suits your own teeth.
5. Do Dental Floss -
Not many people realize the importance of flossing. Floss your teeth in maintaining healthy teeth and mouth. Flossing cleans areas that are hard-to-reach for a toothbrush and can remove food debris and plaque accumulation between the teeth. Flossing not only aims to remove food debris stuck between the teeth, but also to reduce plaque and inflammation in the teeth and prevent cavities. The American Dental Association recommends flossing once a day.
6. Don't Forget To Brush Your Teeth before Bed -
The next way to maintain dental health is to brush your teeth before you sleep. In cleaning teeth, it is recommended to brush at least twice a day, every morning after breakfast and before bed. Even so, many of us ignore the importance of brushing our teeth at night. When you're tired and sleepy, it's easy to forget small things like brushing your teeth. Why is it important to brush your teeth before bed? Because the food debris that is on your teeth (and often you do not realize that) will stay on your teeth overnight if not cleaned. As a result, the food debris can rot and damage your teeth. Brushing before bed can remove germs and plaque that builds up throughout the day. One of the diseases that can be caused by it is gingivitis or an infection that occurs in the teeth and cause periodontitis
7. Using Mouthwash -
Although you are not obliged to use mouthwash, using mouthwash can help you in three ways:
· Mouthwash can help reduce acidity in the mouth to a great extent.
· It cleans the gum and hard-to-brush areas of the teeth.
· It has the ability to re-mineralize the teeth.
Several studies have shown that certain mouthwashes can benefit oral health. Mouthwash that contains chlorhexidine, an antibacterial agent, helps control plaque and gingivitis. In addition, mouthwash can help overcome bad breath and dental problems. The use of mouthwash is most effective for younger children and older people where the use of brush and floss may not be ideal. Older people who are suffering from arthritis or other problems may face difficulty to hold a toothbrush or use floss.
8. Clean the Tongue -
The tongue is a part of the mouth that is often overlooked when taking care of oral health. In fact, plaque can also build up on your tongue! The buildup of plaque on the tongue can cause bad odors and other health problems. Therefore, always clean the tongue slowly every time you brush your teeth.
9. Consumption of Vegetables and Fruit -
Ready-to-eat food is delicious, but maybe not so great for your teeth. Eat fresh and crunchy vegetables. Eating fresh and crunchy products is not only beneficial for healthier fiber content but also a way to maintain the health of your teeth. It will stimulate your teeth and gums and improve blood circulation to those areas, as well as maintaining healthy teeth and mouth. This is important for children. Get used to eating hard foods from an early age and avoid eating food that is too mushy. That way, the teeth will grow stronger.
10. Chew Sugar-free Chewing Gum -
According to the American Dental Association, chewing gum is effective against plaque and strengthens tooth enamel. Chewing gum activates the production of saliva, which can clean sugar, acids, and other food particles that are left in the mouth. By frequently chewing gum, your teeth will be healthier and reduce the risk of cavities in your teeth.
Chewing sugar-free gum has many benefits, those for healthy teeth and gum includes:
· Stimulates Saliva Production
Chewing gum stimulates saliva production and keeps your mouth moist. The saliva that is produced keeps teeth clean. The pH of your saliva is alkaline, which can neutralize the acidity of dental plaque after you consume sugar. The production of a lot of saliva can quickly rid the oral cavity of residual sugar.
· Helps Prevent Cavities
Some chewing gums contain Xylitol, a natural sweetener that works to reduce cavities and dental plaque.
· Reduces Dental Plaque Formation
Chewing sugar-free gum can reduce the formation of dental plaque and stains on the teeth.
· Reduces Bad Breath
Mint-flavored gum can help get rid of odor-causing bacteria that thrive in your mouth. The effect is, you can get fresh breath instantly by just chewing gum.
To get the maximum benefit from chewing gum for your oral health, make sure you consume gum that does not contain sugar.
11. Drink Water –
Water is always the best drink for your health, including oral health. Drinking water does not just keep you from dehydration, but it is also useful for maintaining healthy teeth and gum. Leftover food also causes cavities in the teeth (caries). This is because oral bacteria in the mouth to become acidic then convert the food residue that sticks to the teeth. Acid can gradually dissolve the minerals that form teeth, which eventually causes caries. Therefore, it is recommended to drink water after eating for better oral health. This can help to eliminate some of the harmful effects of sticky and acidic foods and drinks in the mouth.
12. Prevent Sports-Related Tooth Injuries -
Competing in sports and recreational activates is fun and to build healthy bodies, but they can pose a threat to teeth. However, if you play without a mouth guard there is a chance that your teeth could be damaged from a hit or hard object. Some sports have a risk of injury to the face, including the mouth, which has been found in several situations where the front teeth were broken due to injury during sports. Buy a mouth guard that can be softened using hot water to form fit your denture.
13. Sucking on Pacifiers -
If you often bottle-feed your baby, this habit can lead to tooth decay and abnormalities. To prevent this, avoid your baby from falling asleep with their teeth still biting on the pacifier so that the sugar in milk does not stick to the teeth.
14. Beware Grinding Teeth (Bruxism) -
If you have worn tooth enamel, sensitive teeth, or have a torn cheek, you should be aware of grinding at that time. This habit is commonly called bruxism and can damage teeth. The cause is triggered by stress and usually occurs during sleep without the sufferer realizing it. Although dentists cannot break the habit of grinding teeth but can help you with special protective gear to prevent grinding your teeth at night. Usually, the dentist will provide a protective tooth in the form of a mouthguard that can be used while sleeping to protect your teeth from further damage.
15. Cut Down On Acidic and Sugary Foods -
Pay attention to your food type, limit sweet foods, and drinks. To maintain dental health reduce the consumption of sugar and acidic foods. Foods that contain acids and sugars can interfere with oral health. The sugar in your mouth is converted to acid by the oral bacteria, which then slowly erodes tooth enamel (hard coating of teeth). The more sugar that is consumed, the higher the acid will hit the teeth. This acid is what causes cavities. Several studies have highlighted the important role sugar plays in poor dental health outcomes. Of course, you are not asked not to eat foods that contain sugar at all. However, limit consumption in moderation. WHO recommends that everyone limit sugar intake to below 10% of their daily calories. Starchy foods, such as bread, chips, crackers, and pasta can cause tooth decay. Acidic fruits, tea, and coffee can also damage tooth enamel. Avoid such foods to prevent dental problems.
16. Stay Away From Soda -
"Sip All Day, Get Decay" is a campaign by the Minnesota Dental Association to warn people about the dangers of soft drinks. Not only regular soda but also diet soda can harm teeth. The acid in soda can attack teeth. After the acid has eaten away at the enamel, it will attack again to create cavities, leaving stains on the tooth surface, and eroding the inner structure of the teeth. To avoid tooth decay from soft drinks, limit soft drinks, and take good care of your teeth.
17. Avoid Smoking -
Stop smoking, because cigarettes not only have the potential to cause oral cancer, the nicotine and tar content in cigarettes can give your teeth a yellow color, increase the buildup of dental plaque, and damage the gums and bones that support your teeth. Smoking cigarettes can also cause bad breath.
18. Check Your Teeth to the Doctor Regularly -
The biggest problem is that many people do not get their teeth checked by the dentist regularly, and some never get them. Most oral health problems do not produce any symptoms until they have progressed to the next stage. It is therefore very important to visit the dentist at least once every 3-6 months. During the examination, the dentist has the ability to analyze your teeth and provide the right advice for future dental care. In a routine dental check, the dental hygienist will clean the teeth and remove hardened tartar plaque. This tartar, you know, often causes bad breath. Regular dental examinations also help in the diagnosis of gum disease, check for early signs of oral cancer, and prevent tooth wear due to tooth grinding. Recent research results confirm that children and adolescents should have their teeth checked every 6 months to help prevent cavities.
Comments