With the new year just beginning, now is a good time to begin some resolutions to improve your health. In addition to beginning a new exercise program and healthy eating, for example, keeping your oral health in tip-top shape can help improve your overall well-being. Here are three methods you can implement to help you keep your oral health in good condition.
Keep Clean Teeth
One of the first ways to keep your teeth healthy is by keeping your teeth free of plaque and other bacteria that can commonly build up on them. When you eat, your saliva combines with food particles and bacteria already present in your mouth, and sticks on your teeth. This sticky plaque stays on your teeth and can begin to cause decay upon them until you clean the plaque off with a toothbrush, crunchy foods, or a visit to your dentist.
Brush morning and night or after you eat, with a soft toothbrush and tartar-control toothpaste, and floss between your teeth to remove trapped particles. If you don't brush your teeth regularly to remove this sticky plaque, it can begin to harden into tartar within 24 to 48 hours. At this point, the tartar is much more difficult to remove, usually by your dental hygienist with a scraping tool. For this reason, make sure to also visit your dentist several times each year, depending on your health. If you have certain health conditions, such as diabetes or you are a smoker, your dentist may recommend a dental check-up and cleaning more than twice per year.
In addition to brushing and visiting your dentist, eating crunchy foods, such as apples, carrots, and celery can help clean plaque from your teeth. As you chew the foods, their hard edges naturally clean the surface of your teeth. And drinking plenty of water can help rinse your mouth after you eat foods.
Promote Gum Health
The health of your gums is also an important part of keeping good oral health, as your gums hold your teeth within your mouth. If your gums begin to be inflamed and become infected from bacteria, they will receded and pull away from your teeth. This results in eventual tooth loss and the infection within your gums can spread to other parts of your body to further decrease your health.
Flossing between your teeth to remove plaque keeps your gums healthy. When plaque and tartar form along your gum line, they irritate your gums, causing your gums to pull away from your teeth. This pulling-away process forms pockets between the gum line and your teeth where more bacteria and plaque can collect, further exaggerating the problem.
There are several natural essential oils you can use to help improve your gum health. Brushing your teeth with a toothpaste made with tea tree oil can help improve your gum health and reduce inflammation. And a recent study has found using mouthwash twice a day containing neem oil reduces plaque and inhibits gingivitis on your gums.
Repair and Heal Oral Decay
If you have already begun to experience oral decay and gum inflammation, there are ways you can repair and heal the decay. Talk to your dentist at your next dental appointment about repairing any decay that has begun to form in your teeth. Depending on the extent of the decay and where it is in your mouth, there are many different repair methods your dentist can recommend to correct the problem.
You can also change your diet to help improve your teeth health. Studies have shown that reducing your intake of foods high in phytic acid can reduce and reverse the formation of cavities. Foods high in phytic acid include grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. In addition to avoid foods high in phytic acid, increase your intake of nutrient-rich foods, such as meats, vegetables, fruits, milk, and a vitamin D supplement to help improve your teeth health.
Share3 January 2018
Being born with naturally soft teeth, I've spent a lot of time in and out of the dentist's office. Not only have I learned a lot about basic dental care, I've also discovered many tips for dealing with broken teeth, extractions, implants, and more. I decided that I wanted to make the most of my experience by sharing what I've learned with others. True first-hand experience is a great teacher, and I knew that my story could help. I created this site to do just that, and I hope that the information here helps you to understand what to expect from your dental problems.