A smile must show beautiful teeth! There is only one secret to this: having good oral health. This will allow you to have beautiful teeth, but above all, healthy teeth. Good hygiene will also prevent you from developing cavities and other infections, which can be very painful and worsen.
Preserving your teeth is the long-term guarantee of a smile for life, of chewing well to get the most nutritional benefits from our tasty foods. Oral hygiene is linked to a set of actions and good habits to adopt to protect against diseases that affect our teeth, gums, and our entire mouth.
Adopting these good habits will ensure better health as well as a better quality of life. With this in mind, here are tips to minimize your risk of suffering from oral problems. Follow them, and your general health will benefit!
Practice brushing three times a day
Depending on your age, your teeth will not require the same treatments to stay healthy.
In children
From the age of 2, you can wash your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes with fluoride-enriched toothpaste. The use of the electric toothbrush is possible from the age of 5. It is essential to give children good habits from an early age so that brushing fits naturally into their routine. Ideally, watch your child’s teeth brushing until he or she turns 10 to make sure it’s done long enough and in the right way.
In adults
As with all ages, you should continue to brush your teeth twice a day, ideally 3 times, and use dental floss as much as possible to reach all corners. Adults should be followed by a specialist to regularly check the condition of their teeth. Misaligned teeth are difficult to clean. For misaligned teeth, consult Dr. Normand Bach, Orthodontist at OrthodontisteMontreal. Your orthodontist will also advise you on how to clean your braces properly.
In seniors
The more time passes, the more your teeth become fragile. The gums can also retract, and your teeth become loose. It is, therefore, important to use a soft toothbrush that will not damage our teeth or gums while continuing to brush your teeth after each meal. Good oral hygiene is important, especially for seniors, who are more likely than the rest of the population to suffer from conditions like gum disease and dry mouth and to have sensitive teeth.
Brush your teeth correctly
It is crucial to brush your teeth properly using good brushing technique:
- Place the brush at a 45º angle to the gum line.
- It performs gentle, vibratory movements, back and forth, to promote healthy gums.
- To finish cleaning the area, sweep vertically towards the tongue, cleaning the entire surface of the tooth.
- Remember to brush all tooth surfaces (outside, inside, and chewing surfaces, the latter in a circular motion).
- Establish a brushing order that avoids leaving areas of the mouth unbrushed.
To eliminate bacteria and keep breath fresh, it is advisable to brush your tongue as well. Also, change your toothbrush every three months.
Finally, you must keep in mind that in order to achieve optimal oral hygiene, it is important to supplement brushing with the use of mouthwash and dental floss.
Use oral hygiene products containing fluoride
Fluoride promotes the remineralization process of tooth enamel, making teeth more resistant and preventing the early formation of cavities. In addition, it is an antibacterial agent, so it helps prevent the proliferation of bacteria in the mouth.
That is why it is recommended that you check that its ingredients contain fluoride before purchasing any paste or rinse.
Watch your diet
One of the counterproductive effects of quarantine is that it produces high levels of anxiety, leading to increased food intake that we are usually not used to. This situation means that our teeth are continuously exposed to sugars in particular.
Acids produced by the fermentation of foods high in sugar by bacteria present in dental plaque accelerate the process of demineralization of tooth enamel, thus increasing the risk of tooth decay.
Therefore, in addition to brushing the teeth well, maintain a healthy and balanced diet, pay special attention to foods that contain high amounts of sugar (such as industrial baked goods, candies, cereals, sugary drinks, etc.
For the sweet tooth, try Xylitol!
Xylitol is a sweetener derived from the bark of birch trees. It now replaces sugar in many mints, gums, and candies and is present in some kinds of toothpaste. Xylitol tastes sweet, but rather than feeding the bacteria that cause cavities; it kills some of them!
Consuming these products can help reduce your risk of caries in addition to satisfying your sweet tooth (without damaging it!). It should also be noted that this sweetener does not have the unwanted impact of sugar on blood sugar levels; diabetics, therefore, have every advantage in prioritizing xylitol mints, gums, and candies!
Quit smoking
The use of tobacco, in all its forms, seriously affects the teeth as well as the gums and is a major risk factor for oral cancer. Tobacco is responsible for a decrease in oxygenation of the gums, which makes them much more vulnerable to infections.
Tobacco not only yellows the teeth, which can cause aesthetic discomfort, but also it develops the existence of cariogenic bacteria through nicotine. The latter is also one of the causes of poor tooth formation and increases tartar.
Limit your alcohol consumption
Alcohol consumption that exceeds the recommended limits affects our whole body, and our oral health is not spared. Excessive consumption is a major risk factor for oral cancer.
Take care of your dentures on a daily basis
Clean your dentures daily to prevent gum irritation and bad breath. You can use a toothbrush or denture brush, along with a cleanser intended for this purpose, or mild soap and water. Always remove your dentures at night to give your mouth a rest.
Consult your dentist
It sounds trivial but making two annual visits (one every six months) to your dentist is essential if you want to protect yourself against infections. Personalized care allows you to get to know your patient’s teeth better (aligned teeth, quality, bacteria), to get an idea of their eating habits, and to provide appropriate advice to prevent small hassles that can spoil daily life.
