Top Tips To Create The Ideal Oral Health Routine
It’s important to look after your teeth. They need to last you the rest of your life and, as people are living longer than ever, that could be for many years. It’s worth noting that teeth aren’t just for chewing food, they create definition for your face and they help you to formulate words, allowing you to talk coherently.
In short, you need to develop a good oral health routine and look after your teeth.
Daily Brushing & Flossing
The most obvious starting point is brushing your teeth. It’s important to do this at least twice a day. You should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and brush for at least two minutes.
It’s also important not to use too much pressure when brushing, it can damage your gums. The best approach is to hold your brush with one finger and your thumb, use one with soft bristles and you’ll avoid exerting excess pressure on your teeth and gums.
After you’ve brushed you can floss between your teeth, this removes any food debris, reducing the likelihood of decay.
Mouthwash
Using mouthwash can be a good idea as it helps neutralize harmful bacteria and acids in your mouth. However, it can also wash away the fluoride in your toothpaste. Fluoride helps to keep the enamel covering on your teeth strong.
It’s best to use an alcohol-free mouthwash and either use it before brushing or leave it 20-30 minutes after brushing.
See Your Dentist
No matter how regularly you brush your teeth it is still possible to get cavities. The best way to prevent or deal with these is to book a dental appointment with a reputable dentist, such as this dentist Bacchus Marsh. They will check your teeth, advise you of any issues, and help you rectify them.
It’s much easier to deal with issues sooner rather than later. That’s why you should see the dentist regularly, even if you don’t think there is anything wrong.
Consider Your Diet
The modern diet consists of large amounts of processed items. Unfortunately processed foods contain chemicals to preserve them and a high quantity of sugar and salt.
These are both bad for you. Sugar reacts with bacteria in your mouth to create acid, this then attacks the enamel on, your teeth. Ultimately, this attack can cause cavities.
That’s why you should review your diet and focus more on whole foods. It will reduce your sugar intake. You should note that this also applies to drinks. Soda and other soft drinks contain huge amounts of sugar, making it more likely that you’ll get tooth damage.
Stay Hydrated
As part of your oral health and your overall health, you should stay hydrated. That means drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. Hydration keeps your body working properly and it dilutes acids in your mouth, reducing the likelihood of you developing cavities and other issues with your teeth.
Don’t forget, your oral health and your overall health are entwined. Look after one and you’ll be looking after the other.