10 Essential Tips for Keeping Your Teeth and Gums Healthy
Introduction
When was the last time you gave your teeth a thought when they felt perfectly fine?
For many people, the first time that we pay attention to our dental hygiene is only when something is clearly wrong – a toothache that just won’t quit, a mouth full of blood when brushing your teeth, or that strange sensitivity to cold or hot foods. By then, it is usually too late. The problems had already been festering for months, if not years, by the time they manifested.
Good news, however is that keeping your teeth and gums healthy and clean does not have to be an arduous task. By incorporating just a few simple habits into your daily routine, you can not only prevent tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath, but you can also avoid costly future procedures and treatments.
The professionals at Pearl White Dentistry strongly believe that prevention is always better than treatment. That is why we compiled the list of these helpful tips for keeping your teeth and gums healthy for many years to come.
If you want to improve your current habits or just keep your teeth healthy, read on.
- Take your time when brushing
Most people brush their teeth at least once every day, however many do not allow themselves enough time to properly do so.
Consider how rushed you often are on busy mornings. You have to get dressed, look for your phone, fix your breakfast and leave your home without being late. This may cause you to cut the brush time to perhaps just half a minute and then call it a day. The issue is that you cannot remove the film of plaque from your teeth in this way.
A proper two-minute brushing may seem a bit excessive when your time is tight but in this amount of time, you can effectively remove the bacteria and food that gather on your teeth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and scrub in small circles. Ensure that you reach the back of your mouth as well where food particles get stuck quite easily.
Do not forget to brush your tongue. You will be amazed at the amount of bacteria that collect on it!
This Will Help:
- Prevent cavities.
- Reduce the buildup of plaque.
- Protect your gums from inflammation.
- Keep your breath fresh.
- Ensure your teeth always feel and look clean.
It does not take long to ensure that your future will not have to involve painful and expensive tooth procedures.
- Flossing is essential
Most people simply forget about flossing every day. Patients will claim to brush their teeth twice a day, believing that this should be sufficient for keeping their mouths healthy. While brushing is vital, it cannot clean the spaces between your teeth.
It is in these areas that food particles get trapped. Over time, this builds up into a hard plaque. If this is not cleaned out thoroughly every day, it is the ideal location to develop cavities and it will inevitably lead to gum disease. It only takes two minutes a day to floss correctly, and there are now many types of dental floss available that will make the process easier to perform correctly. If regular floss is proving too difficult to use, you could try using a dental pick, or even invest in an electric water flosser to effectively clear the gaps between your teeth.
The benefits:
- Maintain healthier gums.
- Remove plaque more efficiently.
- Fresher breath.
- Fewer chances of cavities developing.
- Reduce the risk of gum disease.
Your teeth and gums will thank you for these two minutes every day.
- Think about what you eat and drink
Your diet can have a significant impact on the state of your teeth. When you consume foods high in sugar, bacteria thrive and they create a coating of acid over your teeth. This can corrode your enamel and in turn lead to the development of cavities.
This does not mean that you will never be able to enjoy a sweet treat again but if possible, try and limit the amount of sweet foods that you eat daily, or have them as part of a meal rather than between meals. Constantly snacking can leave your teeth vulnerable to attack from acid for a longer period. Instead, choose foods which benefit your teeth and gums:
For your teeth and gums:
- Dairy products like cheese and yogurt
- Milk
- Green leafy vegetables
- Apples
- Carrots and celery
- Nuts
- Fish
Limit:
- Sweets
- Fizzy drinks, sports and energy drinks
- Sticky and chewable candy
- Sugar based coffee and tea beverages
By choosing healthier food and drink options, you are doing your teeth a huge favor.
- Drink water
Many people worry about how to take care of their teeth, however they are missing a very basic, inexpensive and powerful aid, water! Drink water frequently throughout the day. It serves the primary purpose of flushing away any food particles and bacteria that has built up in your mouth and will help keep your gums healthy and strong, since it also increases the rate at which your saliva is produced. This means that harmful acids are constantly neutralized and rinsed away.
After finishing a sugary or acidic drink like juice or cola, rinse your mouth with some water in order to remove as much of the damaging substance from your teeth as possible.
The benefits of drinking water:
- Preventing bad breath.
- Washing away food particles.
- Lowering acid buildup.
- Keeping saliva production high.
- Keeping your gums healthy.
Simple, yet so beneficial!
- Change your toothbrush more often than you’d think
Have you ever actually looked at your toothbrush when you last had to change it? Most of us leave them in the medicine cabinet until the bristles are already bent, frayed and flattened. As they get worn out, they no longer clean your teeth effectively, which increases the buildup of bacteria and plaque, and it is recommended that you replace your toothbrush approximately every three to four months, depending on how often it is used. You should replace it right after you have overcome a sickness such as the flu or a bad cold.
Time for a new toothbrush when:
- The bristles have frayed.
- It seems to look old and dirty.
- It is no longer as effective at cleaning your teeth as it once was.
It only costs a little bit and your teeth will really feel the difference.
- Bleeding Gums are Not Normal
Most patients who suffer from bleeding gums assume that this is a common issue and simply make a note to brush more gently. However, this is one sure way of ensuring that a problem which could have been so easily solved turns into a persistent and major issue. Bleeding gums are nearly always caused by a buildup of plaque on your teeth which leads to your gums being inflamed, or gingivitis. As stated previously, brushing and flossing will remove plaque, which will clear this condition and prevent it from becoming more serious. Ignoring the problem only allows plaque to spread, and this will lead to early gum disease, a condition that is unfortunately more permanent thangingivitis. If your gums bleed and you experience inflammation or chronic bad breath then make a dental appointment without delay.
- Do Not Smoke or Use Tobacco
Everyone knows how much smoking affects your health, but most do not know the full effect it can have on your teeth and gums. This habit causes a much higher risk of gum disease, tooth decay, bad breath, yellow teeth, and delayed healing processes throughout the mouth. The gum disease resulting from smoking, due to the reduced ability to feel pain, does not manifest itself as clearly in the early stages, so it is even more likely that serious problems will go undetected until the very last moment. If you wish to give your teeth and gums the best chance, quitting tobacco use would be the first thing you should seriously consider doing.
- Protect your teeth during sport and physical activity
Accidents are always a possibility. Whether it is when you are playing your favourite sport, or on a quick bike ride in the local area, a blow to the mouth can lead to chipping or even the complete loss of teeth. To minimize the risks of damage, custom mouthguards can protect against damage to teeth, lips, and the mouth.
- Even If It doesn’t hurt, Go to Your Dentist
This is perhaps the most vital point of them all.
The most prevalent misunderstanding with dentistry is if nothing aches, then something surely can’t be wrong.
The real-life scenario, though, is that many of the dental problems we have often occur in silence.
Small cavities, early gum disease and even some infections are not likely to manifest any symptoms at all until a certain amount of damage has already been done.
Through regular dental checkups, your dentist will be able to catch the condition in its infancy, when treatment will be easier and less costly.
Most individuals benefit from having check-ups and cleaning once every six months.
This should be looked upon as simply the standard maintenance of the mouth.
- Pay Attention to Your mouth and the signals it’s Sending You
When something is wrong within our body, it generally sends warning signs that indicate this fact.
It’s important to address and check the following if these symptoms are occurring on a regular basis:
Consistent toothache
Tooth sensitivity
Gum swelling
Loose teeth
Unpleasant breath that is more permanent
Pain in the jaw
Oral sores that continue to heal and heal
None of the signs above may be of serious concern but can be ignored as easily either.
The more quickly a dental condition can be diagnosed and treated, the simpler and less expensive the treatment can usually be made.
Final Points
It does not necessarily take a lot of effort to maintain your teeth.
You need neither a number of different dental contraptions or fancy expensive toothpaste and gels. Most often, a few consistent practices and a good routine paired with dental visits will enable you to have the smile you want.
Just like with anything in life, the choices we make today contribute to our future. Brushing and flossing correctly, drinking plenty of water, and visiting your dentist will ensure that your teeth will last a lifetime.
Here at Pearl White Dentistry, we do everything we can to help our patients have a healthy, confident smile no matter what their stage of life. If it has been a long time since you’ve seen your dentist, we’d be more than happy to help you get back into a routine.
The smile you’ll have years from now depends on the habits you adopt today.