#HealthBytes: Tips for better oral hygiene
Your mouth is where you get all your nutrition from. It's the first gateway your food passes from. And for that very reason, maintaining a healthy, long-term oral hygiene becomes vital for your general good health. Not only is bad dental hygiene detrimental to your health, it also affects your self-esteem and social confidence. So, for whiter, shinier, and stronger teeth, follow these tips.
Brush your teeth well, and for the right duration
Simply heading to the washbasin and quickly wiping your brush over your set of 32 won't get you good-looking teeth. Brush thoroughly, up-down, left-right, and at the back of the teeth as well, for a good 2-3 minutes, and rinse well too. Further, you should look to brush your teeth at-least twice every 24 hours, if bad breath and yellowness are to be avoided.
Stating the obvious, but your food makes a huge impact
Talking about diet, one should look to minimize their consumption of acidic drinks- sodas and alcohol. These can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Goes without saying, tobacco consumption is extremely bad for your dental hygiene. Additionally, you should limit your sugar intake as well. Bacteria in dental plaque can convert sugars into acids.
Regularly use a floss, and a fluoridated toothpaste
Always make sure to use a fluoridated toothpaste, as it helps harden tooth enamel, and reduces risk of decay. Further, brushing is good for cleaning the surface of your teeth, it alone won't do wonders to your oral hygiene. So, to get the food residue and other harmful substances out of the spaces between your teeth, floss should be regularly and thoroughly used.
Keep your teeth safe, and make regular dental trips
Your teeth aren't (technically) meant to being used for purposes other than, of course, eating. So, just stop using them for opening bottle tops, and cracking nuts, as you're risking chipping and breakage of your teeth by doing so. Also, for ensuring long-term dental well-being, regular dental check-ups and oral cleaning are a must. Remember those childhood dental trips, get back to them again!
A little more advice for good dental health
Include more teeth-friendly food items such as nuts, apples, and cheese in your diet. Notably, your tongue can harbor bacteria as well, so don't forget that part. Wipe it well with your toothbrush while brushing, or use a tongue cleaner to maintain its hygiene. Additionally, you could also consider using a natural, anti-bacterial mouthwash (as prescribed by your dentist) for better oral heath.
