Healthy teeth do not only provide you with a dazzling smile and are vital to your appearance but also play a vital role in your ability to eat and in your speech. So you have a lot to lose if you don’t take good care of your teeth. Here are tips that can help you to maintain your dental hygiene so that your teeth remain strong and healthy.
1. Brush Your Teeth The Correct Way
Toothbrush is the main tool with which you keep your teeth clean, it helps to get rid of plaque and avoid any build ups, removes food particles that get lodged in your teeth and hence prevents cavities. But surprisingly there are very few adults who know how to use their toothbrush properly.
Experts recommend two minutes of brushing in every session for thorough cleaning.
Use gentle strokes and make sure you brush all your teeth especially the molars at the back as they are very tricky to clean. While brushing around the gums use a 45 degree angle and brush away from the gum line as careless brushing can irritate it.
However you should not get carried away with the cleaning of your teeth because if you brush too often or use a lot of force you can cause your gums to get irritated or even damage and it can thin the enamel of your teeth.
2. Brush At The Right Time
It is highly recommended to brush your teeth at least two times a day to keep up a bright smile and a fresh breath. Although it is said to brush your teeth after every meal but in certain cases it is not good for your teeth. For example if you are eating acidic food or liquid this makes the enamel of your tooth weak and if you brush your teeth in this state it can remove the enamel. Therefore you should wait fro at least half an hour before you brush your teeth after consuming acidic foods or drinks.
3. Regularly Change Your Brush
Brushing your teeth is very important to maintain the health and hygiene of your teeth, thus the tool that you use for this purpose is equally important. If the bristles of the toothbrush become fray and weak it is time to get a new one as fray and weak bristles cannot remove the plaque effectively. Replacing your toothbrush after every three months is recommended by the experts and sooner if the bristles of your brush become frayed or damaged.
4. Using Correct Toothpaste
Toothbrush and toothpaste go hand in hand as far as dental care is concerned. Therefore using the correct toothpaste is as important as using a good toothbrush. Toothpastes have a huge range. There are toothpastes especially for children, organic ones for environmental and health conscious people, stronger kinds for teeth whitening and pastes that are designed for the sensitive teeth or ones with certain dental condition. Toothpaste helps your teeth by preventing cavities, maintaining clean teeth, preventing gum diseases and promote clean, white and healthy teeth. So when you are buying your toothpaste pick the one that caters the best for your oral care.
5.Floss Regularly
Toothbrush is no doubt an invaluable tool but it does have its drawback that is it cannot reach each and every side of all the teeth. And this is the reason why flossing regularly becomes important. Flossing on a regular basis helps removing food that gets stuck and plaque from the teeth and the gums where the bristles of the toothbrush are unable to reach. According to some authorities flossing is even more important than brushing, therefore it is vital for the health of your teeth that you floss regularly. If you have problem with flossing because your teeth are very close together or you find the floss breaking very irritating then you can find for yourself thinner floss that can reach between your close teeth or get a waxed brand which does not break easily.
6. Don’t Neglect Your Gums
Taking care of your teeth is just half of the oral hygiene, taking care of your gums is the other half? As a matter of fact adults older than 35 years are more likely to lose their teeth due to issues of gums rather than cavities. Therefore you should take care of your gums as much as you take care of your teeth in your dental hygiene program. You can keep your gums healthy by brushing away from the gum line, do not brush your teeth with a lot of force and floss your teeth on a regular basis.
7. Use Fluoride
To promote healthy and strong teeth use fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral that is important for maintaining the enamel layer of your teeth. It helps to protect it from decay and damage. Fluoride can be found in many types of toothpaste, you can use these to directly apply it on your teeth. There are many mouth washes that also contain fluoride. You can also ask your dentist for a stronger and more specialized application whether they give it to you in their clinic or in the form of supplements.
8. Regular Dental Checkups
There are a lot of things you can do on your own to keep your teeth healthy and clean but it is always wise to see an expert on a regular basis. Dentists can let you know if there are any oral problems that you might have missed. As they have extensive knowledge about dental healthcare and conditions they can provide specialized cleaning services. The time between your check-ups is debatable but it is wise to see your dentist at least once every year so that you can keep your teeth healthy and prevent them from any long term complication.
9. Eat Foods That Help To Clean Teeth
You may get surprised to know that there are certain foods that actually help to keep your teeth healthy and clean. Foods like apples, celery, carrots and cauliflower can act like tiny toothbrushes and help remove stains and plaque. So if you don’t have a toothbrush at hand considers eating an apple as its light acidity and fiber helps to promote a healthy and clean mouth.
10. Avoid Foods That Stain Teeth
If you are conscious about the whiteness of your teeth than you might think of refraining from foods and drinks that can stain your teeth. Tobacco is known to everyone for making your teeth yellow but there is also red wine and tea that can stain your teeth due to the presence of tannin in them. You can opt for herbal or green tea instead.
11. Eat Foods That Promote Healthy Teeth
What you eat does not only affect your well being generally but it particularly affects your teeth. As your teeth and bones are made of a substantial amount of calcium it is important that you include foods in your diet that provide you with plenty of calcium. Try to develop healthy eating habits and eat foods that are rich in calcium and other nutrients for example leafy green vegetables, nuts and dairy products so that you can maintain a healthy body and healthy teeth.
12. Restrict Your Sugar Intake
If you limit your sugar intake you can most certainly improve your dental health on a longer term. Bacteria that produces acid in the mouth can cause tooth decay and this bacteria thrives on sugar. It is in fact stated in some of the researches that sugar is the primary factor of dental decay. So cut down the intake of sugar in your diet to promote the health and strength of your teeth and avoid dental damage.
13. Gargles
You can complement your brushing and flossing regimen by using mouthwash. The use of mouthwash helps to freshen up your breath, it provides fluoride to your teeth and prevents the formation of cavities. A substitute for mouthwash is apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar helps to kill the bacteria in your mouth, promotes healthy gums and whitens your teeth.
