The teeth are one of our body’s delicate parts, which will easily be affected by several factors including food habits, unhealthy oral hygiene, and much more. Just by maintaining good oral hygiene, you can achieve excellent overall health. Poor oral hygiene can also result in health issues like stroke, heart issues, diabetes, and more, so maintain good oral hygiene to protect yourself from several health issues. Further, dive into this blog to get some ideas to maintain good oral hygiene.

Why is oral hygiene important?

Oral hygiene is nothing but maintaining a disease-free, clean mouth. You can easily achieve this in simple steps by brushing and flossing your teeth daily, also regularly visiting your dentist for dental checkups and cleanings.

Maintaining good oral hygiene will help you safeguard your teeth from oral issues like cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and other issues. As we mentioned above, oral health reflects your overall health. For instance, if your mouth is infected, your bloodstream will transfer the bacteria to different parts of your body, resulting in serious health issues such as heart disease and stroke. So just to avoid these conditions, visit the best dental hospital in Coimbatore. Simply, healthy teeth and gums reflect in long-lasting overall health. Also, poor oral hygiene can lead to health issues like:

Stroke
Cardiovascular disease
Endocarditis
Pneumonia
Diabetes
Alzheimer’s disease

If you are experiencing any of the above-mentioned issues, reach out to a dentist and ask for help from them to promote and support overall dental health.

What are the symptoms of poor oral hygiene?

Several signs will indicate that you have oral health issues. The most common symptoms of bad oral hygiene include:

Bleeding in gums
Tooth decay
Bad breath
Teeth loss
Gum recession
Persistent mouth sores
Tooth pain
Inflammation of the jaw

Whenever you are experiencing the above-mentioned symptoms without delay reach out to a dentist to safeguard your teeth, or try some teeth care tips at home for temporary relief, but usually, a dental visit can potentially safeguard your teeth.

What are the 10 ways to take care of your teeth?

Good oral hygiene protects your teeth and gums and keeps your smile beautiful. Further, let’s see some general oral hygiene instructions:

1) Brush regularly:

Most of us are aware that brushing our teeth twice a day is one of the good practices for removing plaque and bacteria to keep our teeth clean. Also, brushing will help you only when using the right technique.

Individuals should brush only in small circular motions and need to ensure to brush the front, back, and top of every tooth. Brushing should not take more than 2 to 3 minutes. Hard brushing and using a hard-bristled toothbrush can affect your tooth enamel and the gums. As a result, you will experience tooth sensitivity, permanent damage to the protective enamel on the teeth, and gum erosion.

Doctors recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush, and further you need to change your toothbrush every 3 months or when it looks frayed at the ends.

2) Use fluoride:

Fluoride is nothing but an element in the earth’s soil known as fluorine. Healthcare providers believe that fluoride assists in preventing cavities, further, it is one of the common ingredients used in toothpaste and mouthwash. Also, certain dental products don’t contain fluoride.

Some studies have suggested that if you do not take care of your teeth and your toothpaste and mouthwash don’t contain fluoride, it results in tooth decay. Even a recent study has showcased that just brushing and flossing does not prevent you from getting cavities if your toothpaste doesn’t contain fluoride.

Further, in several countries, the water they use contains fluoride. Fluoride will be removed by the reverse osmosis water filters, and those who use well waters should make a fluoride level check to identify how much fluoride is present. Also, several bottled water brands don’t contain fluoride.

3) Floss once a day:

Flossing helps to remove food particles and plaque present between the teeth, where the toothbrush cannot be reached, this is one of the best tips for healthy teeth. Further, it also helps prevent bad breath by bringing out food and debris that has become stuck between the teeth. So healthcare providers also suggest you floss every day.

Mostly dentists will suggest flossing softly down to the gum line prior to hugging the side of the tooth with up and down motions. It’s crucial to remember that you should not snap while flushing up and down between the teeth, because it will not completely remove the plaque.

4) Do frequent screening:

Experts recommend doing dental check-ups at least twice a year. During your dental exams, a hygienist will clean your teeth and to protect your teeth from plaque. Firstly, the dentist will check for visual signs of cavities, gum-related disease, mouth cancer, and other oral health problems. Even at times, doctors will recommend dental X-rays to detect cavities.

Further, the studies have suggested that kids and teens should visit a dentist every 6 months to prevent themselves from cavities. Also, adults who practice good oral hygiene every day will have a low risk of oral health issues, so they can go for dental exams less frequently.

Further, you can ask your dentist about how often you can do dental checkups. The answer will greatly vary depending on your health history, age, and overall dental health. However, when experiencing pain in your teeth, it’s recommended to visit a dentist.

5) Don’t smoke:

Your body’s immune system will be affected by smoking, which leads to slow healing of tissues, including those in the mouth. Further, studies highlight that smoking is a risk factor for gum disease, and individuals who smoke will usually face slow healing post-dental procedure.

Apart from this, smoking will also affect your appearance like yellow teeth and tongue, you may experience bad breath, and the appearance of your mouth will change.

6) Use mouthwash:

Typically, when using mouthwash benefits your oral health. Certain ingredients present in mouthwash will help in preventing plaque and gingivitis. Further, certain mouthwash comes with essential oils, that help in maintaining your oral hygiene.

You can also discuss with your dentist to choose the correct mouthwash for your individual needs. Also, you should remember that mouthwash is not a substitute for flossing and brushing, but you can incorporate this as one of the steps in your dental practices. Simply, mouthwash benefits you if you are facing bad breath or other dental problems.

7) Avoid binge consumption of sugary foods:

Binge consumption of sugar can result in cavities. Even studies suggest that sugar plays an adverse role in your dental health outcomes. Usually, candies, desserts, and processed foods contain high levels of sugar content, so try to avoid them.

Simply by reducing your sugar intake, you can lower the risk of getting dental cavities by 5 to 10%. Further, starchy foods like bread, chips, and pasta can lead to tooth decay. Because these foods will linger in your mouth and break down into simple sugars, there will be acid-producing bacteria. This acid will lead to tooth decay. Instead of eating starchy foods, consider eating more fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, also dairy products without sugar.

8) Drink water instead of sugary drinks:

Simply in sugary beverages, there will be more added sugar, so avoid drinking them. Just drinking soda, juice, or other sugary drinks can result in a higher risk of cavities. So you can drink water or unsweetened tea during the day and can also drink sugar-sweetened drinks at meal times only in small amounts.

9) Brush your teeth twice a day:

More than the above-mentioned points, properly brushing your teeth is more important. Even poor brushing of your teeth is almost considered as not brushing at all. Take some time to brush your teeth, gently move your toothbrush, circular motions to remove plaque. When the plaque in your mouth is not removed, it can lead to the buildup of calculus and gingivitis. The next one is a general recommendation that you need to brush your teeth twice a day. But still, most of us are not brushing our teeth at night. When brushing before going to bed will get rid of the germs in your mouth and plaque that accumulate in your mouth throughout the day.

10) Visit your dentist at least twice each year:

Your daily habits will also impact your oral health, mainly those who are not brushing and flossing properly should visit a dentist regularly. At least, you should visit your dentist for cleanings and checkups twice a year. Apart from removing calculus and looking for cavities, dentists will diagnose potential health issues and offer treatment solutions.

What are the advantages of good oral hygiene?

After being affected by tooth decay or gum disease, your dentist will clean that, but it’s crucial to stop them before the onset of the issue. This is where a good oral hygiene routine comes into the frame. You can reap numerous health benefits by following good oral hygiene like:

Healthier teeth and gummies
A beautiful smile
Fresher breath
Reduced dental issues
Less risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other health concerns
Low risk of the oral cavity.

Just think that maintaining oral health is more affordable than restoring your dental care. Good oral health will save both your time and money.

How do I keep my teeth healthy?

Doctors suggest that you should follow your dentist’s instructions so you can get frequent cleanings and exams. Several individuals need cleaning once in six months to maintain their oral health. But, if you are affected by cavities or gum disease, you need to visit your dentist more often. Simply, individuals with gum disease will see their dentist for every three to four months. This is due to oral bacteria populating rapidly in a few people. So discuss with your dentist about what kind of cleaning schedule will suit your condition.

When should you consult your dentist?

If you have done your last dental visit before six months, get your dentist appointment right away. Firstly, they will check your teeth and gums and will make recommendations based on your condition. So never fail to visit the best dentists in Coimbatore for better outcomes.

In case, you are experiencing oral health issues like tooth pain, bleeding gums, loose teeth, or persistent bad breath, schedule a dental checkup immediately. Treatment is crucial for eliminating harmful bacteria. Simply, by treating your oral health issues, your overall health will be boosted.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, we can say that maintaining good oral hygiene is key to maintaining your overall health condition. Just following simple steps like brushing your teeth twice a day, scheduling your dental appointments every six months, avoiding sugary foods and beverages, and using mouthwash and flossing helps you maintain good oral hygiene. Further, frequent dental checkups can assist you in diagnosing any dental issue at its earliest stages, before worsening. Maintaining good oral hygiene is more affordable than treating your dental issue. To get to know more about dental hygiene and treatment for your specific condition, visit your dentist.