Home / Health / Top Tips For Better Oral Health
Smiling is a form of expressing happiness, and it's often contagious. For most persons, teeth appearance affects how often they smile. How you look after your teeth can either keep them in good condition to make you smile more or result in dental issues that affect your teeth appearance.
There are several common oral health issues that people may experience at some point in their lives. Here are some of the most common oral health issues:
Cavities: Cavities, also known as tooth decay, occur when bacteria in the mouth produce acids that damage the tooth enamel. Symptoms include tooth pain, sensitivity, and visible holes in the teeth.
Gum disease: Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is caused by the buildup of plaque and bacteria in the gums. Symptoms include red, swollen, and bleeding gums, as well as bad breath and tooth loss.
Tooth sensitivity: Tooth sensitivity is a common condition where the teeth become sensitive to hot or cold temperatures, sweet or acidic foods, or even just brushing. It can be caused by thinning tooth enamel, receding gums, or tooth decay.
Bad breath: Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is often caused by poor oral hygiene or gum disease. Other causes include dry mouth, smoking, and certain medical conditions.
Oral cancer: Oral cancer can develop in any part of the mouth, including the lips, tongue, gums, and throat. Symptoms include mouth sores, persistent mouth pain, and difficulty swallowing or speaking.
Toothaches: Toothaches are a common dental problem caused by a variety of factors, including tooth decay, gum disease, a cracked tooth, or an abscessed tooth.
Dry mouth: Dry mouth is a condition where there is a lack of saliva in the mouth. It can be caused by certain medications, medical conditions, or simply aging. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing, a dry or sticky feeling in the mouth, and bad breath.
Tooth grinding: Tooth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a condition where a person unconsciously grinds or clenches their teeth, often while sleeping. It can cause tooth damage, jaw pain, and headaches.
The following dental hygiene tips can help you look your best keep your teeth clean and healthy.
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Brushing your teeth before going to bed at night and any other time in the day with fluoride toothpaste helps remove plaques on the teeth. Plaques are thin bacteria films that accumulate on the teeth and cause tooth decay.
Leftover food and bacteria between your teeth can increase your risk of tooth decay because the bacteria in plaque feed on leftovers. Starches and sugar can also react with bacteria to produce acid, which causes cavities and decay.
After brushing your teeth, spit, but don't rinse. Rinsing your mouth removes fluoride from toothpaste, and fluoride on the teeth is necessary to protect your teeth from acid attacks and remineralise the teeth.
Rinsing your mouth using a mouthwash after brushing your teeth has the same effect as rinsing your mouth with water. You can use mouthwash but not immediately after brushing.
Many foods contain sugar, so cutting off sugar from your diet may be difficult. However, you can limit your sugar intake to minimise acid attacks on the teeth. Opt for regular meals instead of snacking, but if you must eat a snack, eat them during meal times and drink a glass of water afterwards.
Avoiding fizzy and sugary drinks may not be easy, but these drinks contain a lot of sugar which damages your enamel and compromises your dental health. Sugar in fizzy drinks encourages the breeding of bacteria in your mouth.
The recommendation for dental visits is at least once in 12 months. This may be sufficient if you take proper care of your teeth, but if you notice plaque build-up on your teeth, you may have to schedule another appointment.
Accumulation of plaque leads to tartar which forms on the gum line. If left untreated, tartar may lead to bleeding and swollen gums.
If you notice your gums bleeding, you may have an infection resulting from accumulated plaque that has hardened over time. Ensure you keep brushing the bleeding area to remove plaques but if the bleeding persists for several days, consult your dentist.
When your toothbrush wears off, its effectiveness reduces and may lead to plaque build-up on your teeth. Plaques have a detrimental effect on your oral health, such as bad breath and decay.
Different studies show that electric toothbrushes can clean the teeth better than manual toothbrushes. Using an electric toothbrush can remove plaques on your teeth and prevent tartar, leading to gum and teeth issues.
Cindy Invisalyn is an marketing manager of Invisalign dentist in London and a dental blogger. She is associated with the London Braces for long and writes interesting blogs for it in her leisure time. She is quite passionate in letting people know more about Invisalign treatments in London through her intriguing posts.
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