Best Oral Practices You Need to Start Doing Now

When people tell you that you have nice teeth, defiantly do not start taking your teeth for granted. Achieving healthy teeth means you will be taking care of your teeth for the rest of your life. It is essential to take care of your teeth on a regular daily basis. Here are some tips that will help you take care of your teeth the proper way:

 

Don’t go to bed without brushing your teeth.

The recommended times of brushing your teeth is at least twice a day. However, many of us continue to neglect brushing our teeth at night – before going to bed. Brushing our teeth at this time gets rid of the germs and plaque that have accumulated all throughout the day and will literally sit in our mouth hard at work while you sleep!

 

Brush and floss properly.

The way you brush and floss your teeth plays an important role in maintaining good oral health practices. In fact, brushing your teeth poorly is almost as bad as not brushing at all. When you are brushing your teeth, make sure you take time to move your toothbrush in gentle, circular motions – this removes the plaque. Remember that failure to remove plaque can lead to its hardening and build-up. When it builds up, it might lead to gingivitis. Flossing is best done before brushing your teeth. Flossing is not just getting rid of food that gets stuck in between the teeth. It’s also a way to stimulate the gums, help lower inflammation in the area, and reduce plaque.  Learning, practicing, regular and routine brushing and flossing techniques for life will aid in all sorts of dental concerns.

 

Don’t forget to take care of your tongue and cheeks.

Plaque does not just build up on the teeth; it also does on the tongue and even your cheeks. This does not just lead to bad breath, but it might also lead to other oral health problems. Make it a habit that after brushing your teeth, you gently brush your tongue and cheeks (inside your mouth), too. Make sure that you do not leave any toothpaste residue in your mouth. If you find this uncomfortable, you can use a ‘tongue scraper’ to avoid from gagging when you clean your tongue.

 

Use fluoride-filled toothpaste.

When it comes to choosing which toothpaste to use, make sure that it contains fluoride. Fluoride is a leading defense against tooth decay. It fights off germs that can lead to tooth decay, and it also provides a protective barrier for your teeth.

 

Hydrate throughout the day.

Water is still the best beverage for our overall health – this includes your oral health. It is recommended to drink water after each meal as this helps wash out some of the negative effects of acidic and sticky foods and beverages in between brushing and flossing.

 

Limit sugary and acidic foods and beverages.

Sugar converts into acid in the mouth, and this causes erosion of teeth enamel. These acids are what actually lead to cavities. Acidic fruits, coffee and tea can also wear down tooth enamel. You don’t have to avoid all these foods and drinks, but you just have to take the necessary precautions needed to lessen their damaging effects on the teeth.

The Importance of Brushing and Flossing

Ever since we were young, we have always taught how important brushing and flossing our teeth are. Despite the many reminders, we still, at times, forget to maintain a proper healthy oral routine. Here are a few reminders on the importance of these two acts:

Brushing Our Teeth
Plaque is a colourless film of bacteria that coats your teeth if you do not brush them properly and on a regular basis. Plaque contributes to tooth decay and gum diseases. Brushing the teeth stops plaque from building up. When you brush your teeth, you are also helping your mouth smell fresh and clean. It is never enough to just chew gum and it definitely does not kill any bacteria. People who do not brush their teeth on a regular basis are more prone to having tooth loss and other dental problems.

Proper Way of Brushing the Teeth
When brushing the teeth, make sure that you brush all the surfaces of your teeth – in total, it should take you no less than about two minutes. It is a must to brush the inner and outer tooth surfaces, as well as the chewing surfaces of your teeth. Children should be supervised when brushing their teeth until they are at least seven years old. It is important to spit out any excess toothpaste after brushing. Using a mouthwash that contains fluoride can be an aid in preventing tooth decay, but do not use it immediately after brushing your teeth. Doing so, washes away the concentrated fluoride in the toothpaste left on your teeth.

Flossing the Teeth
Flossing is an act that is often neglected but is a vital part in maintaining proper dental health. By flossing daily, you can remove plaque that is stuck between your teeth. This is an area that cannot be reached by your toothbrush. Unless the plaque is removed from this area, it can contribute to the build-up of tartar, cavities and other dental concerns. Flossing is also one of the things that most people do not enjoy doing. It’s something that is so easy to do, yet equally easy to neglect and put-off. Just like toothbrushes, dental flosses come in different sizes, types and flavours and worth finding one that each family member likes.

Proper Way of Flossing the Teeth
Flossing is not just for dislodging the food wedged between your teeth and plaque. It helps in reducing bad breath and gum diseases by removing plaque that forms along and under the gum line. The best time to floss is before brushing the teeth. Take 12-18 inches (30-45cm) of floss and grasp it so you have a couple of inches between your hands. Slip the floss between the teeth and into the areas between your teeth and gums – as far as it will go without forcing it. Floss with 8-10 strokes, up and down between each tooth, to dislodge plaque and food.

Maintain a healthy oral routine now in order to avoid more complex dental conditions and issues in the future!

How Proper Oral Hygiene Improves Your Overall Health

Open mouth during oral checkupNot a lot of people know that a healthy mouth equates to a healthy body.  Did you know that just by a swab of saliva, a doctor can tell a lot of things about what’s going on inside your body? Our mouths are helpful in detecting early signs and symptoms of certain systemic diseases (diseases that affect our entire bodies, not just one of their parts). Diabetes, for example, often becomes apparent as oral problems. Here are some of the conditions that might affect your oral health:

Cardiovascular Disease

Some studies suggest that clogged arteries, heart disease and stroke might be linked to the infections and inflammations that can are contributed to oral bacteria. 

Diabetes

Diabetes puts the gums at risk because it reduces the body’s resistance to infection. Gum disease might appear to be more frequent and severe among people who have diabetes. Studies show that people with gum disease have a harder time controlling the levels of their blood sugar. 

Endocarditis

Endocarditis is the infection of the inner lining of your heart (endocardium). It typically occurs when bacteria and other germs from another part of your body – such as your mouth – spread through your bloodstream, and attach to the damaged areas in your heart. 

Osteoporosis

This condition causes bones to become weak and brittle. It might be linked with tooth loss as well as periodontal bone loss. 

Pregnancy and Birth

Periodontitis has also been linked to low birth weight and premature birth in some cases. 

Alzheimer’s Disease

Tooth loss before the age of 35 might be a risk factor for this certain disease. 

Other Conditions

Due to these potential links, make sure that you let your dentist know if you are taking any medications or if you’ve had any changes in your overall health – most especially if you’ve had any recent illnesses, or you have a present chronic condition such as diabetes. 

It is a must to protect your overall health by practicing good oral hygiene every day. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss daily. You should also eat a healthy diet and it’s a must to replace your toothbrush as soon as your bristles are worn out. 

Don’t forget to contact your dentist as soon as you experience an oral health problem. It’s best to have regular trips to the dentist. Keep in mind that when you invest in your oral health, you are also investing in your overall health. 

Are Floss Picks Just as Good As Standard Flossing?

Dental floss has long been an important ally in keeping teeth healthy since its invention in the 19th century, but just as we’re now all aware of the effectiveness of flossing at preventing plaque and gum disease, we’re just as aware of how annoying it can be to use.  While there are certainly some among us with the skill to take a piece of floss and wrap it around and between each tooth like an expert, there are many others who just never could get it right, got frustrated, and ended up back at the dentist being told yet again that they needed to floss more. 

Floss picks are a relatively newer invention, having grown in popularity since their introduction in the 1980s, and are designed to overcome the difficulty of use of regular floss.  More expensive than dental floss, floss picks come in a pack and are made of a plastic body with floss angled either in a ‘U’ or an ‘F’.  Its usage is simple – just slip the floss section between your teeth and use as though it were normal floss held between fingers. 

Okay, so floss picks are easier, but are they just as effective as regular flossing?  For the most part the answer is yes.  Studies have shown that floss picks are ‘at least as good’ as regular floss for removing plaque.  Cleaning the area between your teeth, regardless of method, is a positive thing for your dental health.  Some dentists do believe that regular flossing is better at reaching areas floss picks might not be able to, but all agree that floss picks are far superior to not flossing at all.

If you have always wanted to floss more often, but just haven’t been able to muster the skill or the patience, floss picks might be right for you.  If you haven’t been flossing as much as you should, and you need to see someone regarding care for your teeth or gums, contact our team and we’ll be happy to help!