Tips for good dental health

Even if you do brush and floss regularly, you still need to visit your dentist once every four months

HAVING  close-to-perfect, pearly white teeth is an asset that everyone wants. A perfect set of teeth adds a lot to a person’s self-esteem. With it, one can smile comfortably and with confidence — even if the receiver of said smile is a complete stranger. If you want to achieve great dental health, then here are a few tips you need to follow.

1. Brush regularly

Brushing serves as the main component to keeping our mouths and teeth clean. The simple process removes food particles stuck in our gums and teeth, eliminating possible bacteria buildup and helping us have fresh breath all the time. There are two types of toothbrushes that you can use for brushing: the traditional one or the modern electric toothbrush. The latter is obviously more expensive, but both can still be efficient and effective as long as you dedicate a couple of minutes for each brushing session and brush at least twice a day.

2. Floss daily

There are areas inside your mouth that cannot be reached and cleaned by brushing alone. In order to thoroughly clean your mouth from food particles, particularly in between your teeth and gums, you must floss. Flossing once before you go to sleep is enough to observe good dental health.

3. Make regular trips to the dentist

Even if you do brush and floss regularly, you still need to visit your dentist once every four months — not just when you are suffering from dental problems and other issues involving your teeth. If you visit the clinic regularly, the dentist is able to foresee possible dental problems or gum diseases and treat them right away. Also, keep in mind that there are other oral health risks, such as HIV and mouth cancer, that only professional dentists can spot. If your dentist’s clinic is too far from your residence, don’t hesitate to transfer to a new dentist that would be more convenient for you to visit. You only need to give your new dentist your dental health history to keep them updated.

4. Maintain a healthy diet

The types of food that you eat play a very crucial role in your overall health. When it comes to taking care of your oral health, include a lot of calcium-rich foods, such as dairy products, in your diet. Calcium is an element that is known to strengthen bones and teeth. You can also try chewing on citrus fruits that are rich in vitamin C, as this can boost the health of your gums. Aside from eating right, you should also avoid foods that greatly contribute to the deterioration of your oral health. Always avoid foods with high sugar contents. Minimize sweets such as candies, cakes, ice cream, chocolates, etc. Bacteria love to feed off leftover sugar that gets stuck in the crevices of your teeth. They easily multiply this way and eventually give you tooth decay or gum problems.

5. Quit smoking

According to a study in the Journal of Periodontology, smokers are four times more likely to suffer from gum diseases than non-smokers. You should quit smoking right away if you want to avoid suffering from periodontal diseases. This is easier said than done, but all the health risks that go along with cigarette smoking, along with the dental problems, should be more than enough convincing for you to take action on dropping this vice. There are a lot of tips out there that will help you get through the process of quitting smoking.

6. Whiten your teeth

Even though the benefits of whitening your teeth are purely for aesthetic purposes and not for health reasons, it is still a great idea to beautify your mouth (as long as the process is not harmful to your teeth and mouth!). White teeth give an impression of good hygiene, which can instantly boost your confidence. There are already a lot of teeth whitening products that you can simply purchase over the counter without the need of a medical prescription. However, it is advised that you should seek professional advice first before using any whitening products.

7. Take advantage of dental procedures

The world of dentistry has really progressed over the years and more and more dental procedures have been developed. Advanced and technical dental procedures that can fix teeth problems are already available. These days, it seems that nothing is impossible when it comes to fixing dental issues. If you have naturally imperfect teeth, dental technology can surely fix that problem for you. Also, if you want to further enhance your looks by improving the aesthetics of your teeth, there are a lot of dental cosmetic procedures that you can take advantage of. However, most of these dental procedures, particularly cosmetic ones, can be quite expensive. Consider it an investment if you are thinking of getting any dental cosmetic procedures.

There are a lot more oral health tips out there, but these seven are arguably the most important. Try implementing these tips and you will achieve perfect teeth in no time. By Charles Crawford

www.lifehack.org

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