If you prefer to just brush your teeth first thing in the morning or leave the toothbrush entirely untouched on a busy day, a new study may prompt you to think twice.
The study findings stressed that while a brushing session before breakfast is necessary, brushing teeth before bed time is even more important to prevent cardiovascular problems.
The research team looked at participants aged 20 or over who were hospitalised at the Osaka University Hospital in Japan between April 2013 and March 2016 for examination, surgery, or treatment.
Furthermore, people who visited the hospital's Unit of Dentistry to seek dental treatment, perioperative oral care, and screening for infection were also considered.
Including the total of 1,675 participants, the researchers put the subjects into four groups.
Including the total of 1,675 participants, the researchers put the subjects into four groups.
Group MN consisted of people who brushed their teeth twice daily, once after waking up and once at night-time.
Group Night only reported brushing their teeth once at night, while group M brushed their teeth only after waking up.
The last group dubbed None didn’t perform this key practice of oral hygiene at all.
The researchers then evaluated each participant's age, gender, smoking history, and follow-up results.
In addition, four independent investigators also looked at the dental and medical records of all study participants.
They focused on factors like oral health, pre-hospitalisation frequency and time of toothbrushing, the depth of periodontal pockets, the extent of tooth mobility, and teeth count.
When it came to markers of cardiovascular health, the researchers considered hospitalisation for heart failure, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and valvular and aortic diseases requiring surgery.
The findings suggested that non-smokers in groups None and M had “significantly” worse prognosis when hospitalised with cardiovascular issue.
On the other hand, groups MN and Night had higher survival rates.
While the team explained that the findings are limited to cardiovascular diseases, they stressed the importance of nightly tooth brushing.
“We suggest that brushing teeth at night is important for lowering cardiovascular disease risk,” the team penned.
A toothache can be caused by anything from a popcorn shell wedged between your teeth, to a broken tooth, or even a bacterial infection. Some issues that cause a toothache may result in simple gum irritation, and others may require specialized treatment by a dental professional to resolve the issue.
It is incredibly important to seek out your local dentist if you are experiencing a prolonged toothache, as it may indicate an infection. Continue reading to learn more about the various causes and solutions for sensitive teeth, so you can decide if your toothache needs to be seen by a dentist.
The Causes of Toothaches
Toothaches are often caused by cavities. If this is the case, your tooth probably hurts when you drink and eat, especially so when you bite into your food. You may also feel tooth sensitivity when consuming a sugary drink or snack.
Some early indicators that your toothache is due to a cavity are bad breath, and noticeable cracks, discoloring, or pits in the tooth. Mention any unusual occurrences to your dentist when you schedule an appointment.
Other possible causes of a toothache include tooth decay, infected gums, a damaged filling, sudden temperature sensitivity (either hot or cold), or a broken or fractured tooth. If you notice any of these issues, be sure to contact a dentist immediately.
Can I Treat My Toothache at Home?
Home treatments should not be used as a permanent solution, but it is possible to use homemade toothache solutions to ease your pain until you manage to see your local dentist. Here are some options for temporary relief of a toothache:
Take an anti-inflammatory to decrease swelling as well as blunt the pain. It is important to not exceed the daily recommended dose. An anti-inflammatory medication will treat both potential swelling and tenderness.
Rinse your mouth with salt water or hydrogen peroxide. It is imperative to keep your mouth as clean as possible. To remove any harmful debris from your mouth and provide some pain relief, swish around salt water or hydrogen peroxide.
Apply either a hot towel or cold compress to your jaw or the affected area. A hot towel will boost the flow of blood and nutrients, while a cold compress will slow the flow of blood, reduce swelling, and reduce pain. Make sure to wrap the heating or cooling appliance to prevent skin irritation.
For a natural remedy, you can use clove oil, peppermint tea, or crushed garlic. Clove oil is a natural antiseptic that will numb pain and reduce inflammation. Try putting it on a cotton ball and applying it directly to the aching tooth. Peppermint tea is naturally soothing, and the warmth of the tea will serve as a rinse and relaxant. Garlic is naturally antimicrobial and will also reduce pain levels.
See Your Local Dentist for Treatment
Now that you have some methods to ease your toothache symptoms while you wait to see your local dentist, you may be wondering what you can expect once you visit the dentist. There are a few treatments available, depending on the level of attention that is needed to correct the issue.
Your dentist will provide a deep cleaning to prevent any periodontal damage, as well as prescribing an antibiotic if there is a fever or swelling of the jaw accompanying a toothache.
If your toothache is caused by a cavity, there are a few options available. Your dentist will likely fill the cavity, or if necessary, remove the tooth. A root canal is another possibility, if the cause of your toothache is an infection deep inside the tooth. During a root canal, your dentist will remove the infected pulp from the tooth and seal it.
Having bad breath can cause a negative impact on your daily life, affecting both your relationship with others and your self-esteem. Although this condition is easy to control, it still affects around 25% of the population.
Usually, it disappears after brushing your teeth or using a mouthwash. However, on some occasions doing so will only mask the odor or make it disappear for a brief period.
If this is your case, your bad breath could be related to dental issues instead of the food you eat.
In this article, we will discuss the relationship between bad breath and dental issues and explain how to solve it.
How does bad breath occur?
Halitosis, commonly referred to as bad breath, is caused by different factors.
Usually, it is caused by food that possesses strong smells, such as garlic and onion. After eating these types of food, the scent impregnates the oral cavity.
However, halitosis is also caused by bacteria involved in oral diseases. When food residues are left in the mouth, they begin decomposing as bacteria break them down.
Moreover, large amounts of bacteria present in different oral diseases, such as gums disease and infections, can produce an unpleasant odor.
Bad breath and oral diseases
Whenever there is an oral disease, there is enormous bacterial colonization behind it. The most common dental issues responsible for bad breath include conditions such as:
Gums disease: gingivitis and periodontitis are caused by tartar build-ups, which are made of a combination of proteins, minerals, and bacteria. Thereby, as long as the tartar is not removed, bad breath will not disappear.
Infections: abscesses and other oral infections possess large amounts of bacteria. When they remain confined inside the bone, they usually don’t produce odor. However, once they start draining into the mouth through the gums, the bad smell is released, and bad breath occurs.
Furthermore, it is also common to experience a type of infection called pericoronitis. It often develops when the third molars are erupting, causing pain, swollen gums around the tooth, and bad breath.
Dry mouth: saliva acts as the mouth’s natural defense system. It regulates its pH (acidity level), helps remove food leftovers after eating, and controls the bacteria population, keeping the flora at standard levels.
However, certain conditions and medicines can decrease saliva production, leading to dry mouth.
As there is not enough saliva, odor-producing bacteria are increased. Moreover, this results in the development of gums diseases, increasing bad breath.
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Unfortunately, brushing your teeth will only mask the odor. It is vital to attend dental consultation to undergo the appropriate treatment.
Luckily, most times, professional cleaning is enough to eliminate halitosis completely.
Although bad breath is a common condition that can impact daily life directly, affecting thousands worldwide, it can be easily prevented by maintaining good oral health.
If brushing your teeth is not helping you eliminate it, the cause is most likely related to a dental issue, such as gums disease. Make sure to book an appointment with your dentist, and he will get rid of your halitosis so you won’t have to worry about your breath anymore.
Have you ever wondered why you need to visit the dentist at least every six months? Do you really need to have a checkup this frequently? Unfortunately, oral health issues develop quickly, and a regular checkup leads to catching them early on. But why are preventive care and early detection so important? Here are three reasons why you want to find oral health problems as soon as possible.
Early Detection Can Help You Avoid Tooth Pain
Even though teeth are small and can withstand immense biting force, they can also cause excruciating pain. When acids from harmful bacteria and acidic foods erode the tough enamel protection, the more sensitive layers become exposed. In other words, a cavity forms.
At first, a cavity may not necessarily hurt; in fact, you may not notice it at all on your own. Eventually, however, the cavity delves deeper into the tooth where the nerve is located. At that point, you can be downright miserable with pain. But if your dentist has the opportunity to examine your teeth on a regular basis and take X-rays, they can keep a close eye out for early signs of decay and address the issue while it’s still small and not hurting you.
Early Detection Can Help You Avoid Tooth Loss
It starts out as red, puffy gums that slightly bleed when you brush. In the beginning stage, called gingivitis, gum disease is fairly easy to treat and get rid of, but this condition can cause more serious damage than you may think. If it goes untreated, gum disease ultimately leads to gum recession, jawbone deterioration, and tooth loss. By having your dentist routinely watch out for the early signs of this disease, you ensure that it doesn’t progress to the point of permanently damaging your smile.
Early Detection Could Save Your Life
Did you know that oral cancer is the sixth most common type? Overall, it has high mortality rate, not because it is particularly difficult to treat but because it is often discovered in later stages of development. However, when it is diagnosed and treated early, patients can have up to a 90 percent survival rate. Fortunately, oral cancer screenings are part of your routine six-month checkup with your dentist, increasing the chances of identifying cancer as early as possible.
In addition, gum disease can have a direct impact on your overall health. In fact, many studies have found that having this oral disease drastically increases your chances of experiencing a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke. Gum disease has also been linked to poorly managed diabetes, kidney disease, and Alzheimer’s. Allowing this condition to progress only harms your body and even potentially puts your life in danger.
In the end, your dental visits are about more than just cleaning your teeth; they also allow your dentist to inspect your mouth for signs of trouble. If they find something amiss, they can take care of the problem sooner rather than later when it becomes harder to fix. It’s worth putting in a little bit of time with preventive dentistry to catch issues now so that you can keep smiling in the future!
Bad breath can be an indicator that something's going on in your mouth. Perhaps it's as simple as a few slices of pepperoni and onion pizza for lunch. Or maybe your oral care habits haven't been as consistent as they could be. Both are easily fixable. But what if your bad breath stems from something more complicated? If your breath smells like ammonia or you have an ammonia taste in your mouth, it may be a sign of a problem with your kidneys. Here's what you need to know about kidney functions and what having ammonia breath could indicate.
The Function of the Kidneys
To understand how kidney health relates to your oral health, it's best, to begin with a simple anatomy lesson. Humans have two kidneys. Both are about the size of a fist and located on either side of the spine just below the rib cage.
The kidneys are vital to your health as they remove waste products from your body. They filter the blood and help ensure any excess fluids leave the body through urination. They also perform other functions, such as controlling red blood cell production, releasing hormones to regulate blood pressure, and helping the body maintain healthy bones by producing vitamin D.
Kidney Disease and Oral Health
One of the products removed from the blood supply by kidneys is urea. When the kidneys fail to remove all of the urea, the urea breaks down into ammonia. Hence, the reason people with renal problems often have breath that smells like chemicals or ammonia breath. Additionally, the body is unable to absorb calcium properly as a result of kidney disease. Lack of calcium can lead to bone loss, impacting the jaws and the bone around the teeth.
Ammonia Breath Causes and Treatments
Often something else going on with the body, including some other illness, results in kidney disease. Some of the common causes of kidney disease are:
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Autoimmune disorders like lupus
An injury to one of the kidneys
Certain medications
Ammonia breath will only subside once you treat the underlying condition. First and foremost, you need to seek the help of a medical professional. Until then, there are plenty of different ways to mask bad breath.
Carry a toothbrush and toothpaste with you for on-the-go brushing.
Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
Avoid pungent foods like garlic and onions.
Clean your tongue with a soft-bristled toothbrush or tongue scraper.
Quit smoking and using tobacco products.
Chew sugar-free gum.
Monitoring your overall health is the most important way to recognise that there might be something wrong. Your body could be providing clues. So, when you book an annual health screening with your primary care physician, go ahead and schedule regular dental check-ups at least twice a year. Talk to your dentist about developing a good oral care routine that includes brushing at least twice a day. Follow that up with regular flossing or cleaning between your teeth to remove food particles from spots a brush might not be able to reach.
Bad breath can be unappealing, but it is also treatable, even if there is a deeper issue causing it. Talk to your primary care physician and dentist as soon as possible if you notice ammonia breath, and they will be able to help come up with a treatment plan that's right for you.
Dental plaque is a known risk factor for developing gingivitis and other general health issues. However, when plaque build-up in your mouth, it can turn into an even greater threat to your dental and overall health, known as calculus. Calculus creates a conducive environment for dental bacteria, and its action can pose a severe threat to your general health.
Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the risk of developing these dental bacteria-related health problems. One of the most effective methods is a regular scale and clean. In this blog post, we will discuss how bacteria in your calculus can cause you general health issues and how regular scale and clean can help avoid those issues.
What is Calculus?
First things first, it is important to understand what calculus is before discussing some of its negative effects on general health. Simply stated, calculus is calcified bacterial plaque that forms on the teeth’ enamel and below the gum line. Calculus cannot be removed by normal brushing and flossing. One will need to see the dentist for its removal.
How can bacteria in your calculus cause you general health issues?
• Stroke
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death globally. It is caused by a number of factors, including high blood pressure, cholesterol, and age. However, one of the most important risk factors for stroke is dental bacteria.Dental bacteria can damage arteries in your neck and brain. They can also cause inflammation, which can lead to artery blockages.
• Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia and across the world. There are several factors that can heighten your risk of developing heart disease, including smoking, being overweight, and having high cholesterol levels. Dental bacteria can also play a role in increasing your risk for heart disease.
It can cause inflammation and infection in the heart. Inflammation can lead to atherosclerosis, which is a plaque build-up on the inside of arteries. A build-up of plaque can block blood flow to and from the heart and cause a heart attack.
• Respiratory Illnesses
The bacteria on calculus can easily travel from the mouth to the lungs aggravating the respiratory system. This can lead to complications such as infection, pneumonia, and bronchitis.
• Pregnancy Complications
There are a number of pregnancy complications that can be caused by dental bacteria. These can include pre-term birth, low birth weight, and even stillbirth. In some cases, the infection can go ahead and spread to the baby’s brain and cause serious problems. If you’re pregnant, it’s vital to talk to your dentist about your risk factors for dental bacterial infections and how to protect yourself from them.
How regular scale and clean can help avoid general health issues?Oral health is a vital part of life, and it’s important to ensure your teeth are healthy. Everyone should practice brushing and flossing daily. However, apart from brushing and flossing on a daily basis, it is vital to have a scale and clean at least twice a year. It helps remove plaque and calculus and thus prevents severe general health issues, as discussed above.
Here are some of the benefits of Scale and Clean:
• Plaque Removal
Professional dental scales and cleaning can help to remove plaque and bacteria that can cause tooth decay, gum disease, and other general health problems. It also helps to restore your teeth’s natural color and clarity. It is quite difficult to remove plaque from your mouth, and that is why you need a dental scale and clean.
• Calculus Removal
Unlike plaque, calculus is hard and cannot be removed by brushing and flossing at all. You will require a dental scale and clean to remove it. The dentist has special dental tools that can reach every nook and cranny of your teeth and remove plaque. When you leave calculus to sit on your teeth and below the gum line, it means you are giving bacteria a chance to thrive. And apart from these bacteria ruining your smile, they might also bring you some general health complications.
• Protects Your General Health
Professional dental scaling and cleaning can help protect your overall health. Removing harmful bacteria and debris from your teeth and gums can help reduce the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and other general health issues.
Bottom Line
There you have it; dental hygiene is a very important part of your life. Poor dental hygiene can lead to calculus formation, which in turn can damage your oral and general health. Therefore, it is important to visit your dental professional at least twice a year for a dental scale and cleaning.
Learn expert-recommended daily habits to help you achieve clean teeth and fresh breath.
Achieving and maintaining clean teeth and fresh breath are vital signs of good health that demand lifelong dedication. Regardless of receiving compliments on your beautiful teeth, it remains essential to fulfill your daily oral hygiene requirements consistently.
If you’ve been avoiding a visit to the dentist, reconsider your decision. Many people are unaware of the important role that dental care plays in maintaining good health.
Individuals with diabetes and heart conditions are particularly susceptible to oral health issues. Additionally, pregnant women who do not prioritize oral hygiene may also experience dental problems. Dr Dhiman Banerjee, a Dentist at Manipal Hospitals, Kolkata, has recommendations to understand how to maintain oral hygiene and its significance in daily life.
What is oral health?
Our oral health has a significant impact on our ability to eat, speak, smile and express emotions. It also affects our self-esteem, school performance, and attendance at work or school.
Millions of Americans suffer from oral diseases, which include cavities, gum disease and oral cancer. These conditions cause pain and disability and result in substantial costs for taxpayers annually.
What is the significance of maintaining good oral hygiene?
If proper brushing habits are not practiced, bacteria in the mouth can easily multiply in the oral cavity, which can lead to potential health risks. In more severe cases, these bacteria can enter the bloodstream, resulting in various health problems. A recent study found that poor oral health in pregnant women has been linked to a higher risk of premature birth.
Bad breath and possible illnesses linked to it
The Mayo Clinic explains that the odors related to bad breath can differ depending on the root cause. Dry mouth is commonly caused by medical conditions like tonsillitis and acid reflux.
Sometimes, stomach acids can move upwards in the digestive tract due to conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease. If a person’s kidneys are not functioning properly and their respiratory system is weakened, they may have breath that smells like fish. This could indicate that their body is struggling to eliminate harmful toxins that have built up in different areas of their body.
What to do to maintain oral hygiene?
Dr Banerjee offered HealthShots some tips on how to maintain good oral hygiene and keep our teeth healthy through daily habit changes:
Brush your teeth after breakfast rather than right after you wake up. This allows saliva to balance any acids in your mouth. So, it’s advisable to rinse your mouth and eat breakfast before brushing your teeth.
Make sure you get regular dental checkups. You should have a dental checkup and maintenance every seven to eight months. According to each patient’s profile, some are more prone to gum problems and may need scaling or maintenance therapy.
Don’t skip brushing before going to bed. By brushing after dinner, you can maintain good oral health by removing accumulated plaque and bacteria over the day.
Flossing and mouth-washing are also helpful. If you want to maintain a healthy mouth, it is advisable to floss between your teeth after dinner. In addition, mouthwash may help provide a temporary fresh feeling, although not contributing too much to oral health.
Limit the consumption of foods that can harm your teeth. Limiting food with refined sweeteners and carbonated drinks is vital for maintaining good oral hygiene. It is important to note that drinking milk will help build strong teeth until age five.
Around the home, some natural remedies can alleviate toothache almost immediately.
Toothaches can be incredibly discomforting and painful. If you wake up in the middle of the night to a toothache, how do you deal with the pain?
To reduce the effect of whatever pain you might be feeling, you should try the following natural home remedies.
1. Salt water solution
Rinsing your mouth with salt water is an effective treatment for almost every pain you feel in your teeth.
This is because saltwater is a disinfectant. It helps to treat inflammation and wounds in your mouth and remove substances that might be stuck in your teeth.
2. Cold compress
A cold compress can be used to make most pain and inflammation better. So if you notice pain around any area in your mouth, apply a cold damp towel to it.
It will cause the blood vessel to constrict and reduce whatever pain you may be feeling.
3. Garlic
Garlic is an anti-bacterial substance that helps to fight the bacteria that causes dental plaque.
Garlic also helps to relieve pain. Chew raw garlic or apply the garlic to the area affect. Add some salt to it too.
4. Guava leaves
Guava leaves are also good for protecting your teeth and relieving you from the pains of toothache. Guava leaves help to heal wounds when chewed or used as a mouth wash.
5. Onions
Onion has anti-inflammatory and microbial qualities that ease pain and reduces swelling in the mouth. Take a slice of onions, place it between the teeth and chew.
A sore on your tongue can be a real nuisance. Some causes of mouth sores can include the foods you eat, certain medications, broken teeth and some medical conditions. If you’re wondering ‘Why do I keep getting mouth ulcers?’, read on for more information on the types of mouth ulcers, mouth ulcer causes and the best tongue ulcer treatment methods.
Mouth Ulcer
Mouth ulcers, or canker sores, can appear on the gums, roof of the mouth, cheeks and tongue. According to the National Health Service (NHS), you may develop a mouth, cheek or tongue ulcer from biting the inside of your mouth. Genetics, stress, broken teeth, spicy and acidic foods or a burnt tongue may lead to mouth ulcers. Make sure you're getting enough vitamin B12, zinc and iron in your diet because a tongue ulcer may develop when you lack these nutrients. This type of sore on your tongue typically goes away on its own within two weeks. You may want to rinse your mouth with a mouthwash for ulcers to soothe the sore and reduce irritation.
People often wonder ‘Are ulcers contagious?’ – but you’ll be relieved to know they’re not. However, it’s worth noting that recurrent mouth ulcers are thought to be hereditary as up to 40% of people who experience them report it runs in their family, as noted by NI Direct. So, if you get this type of sore regularly, your children are likely to get them too. Limit the acidic or rough-textured foods that you or your child eats – and note, that mouth ulcers occur more often in women. If the problem is recurring, consult your doctor about the medications you take or the food you eat that may lead to frequent mouth ulcers.
Cold Sore
A sore on your lip may be a cold sore and shouldn’t be confused with a mouth or tongue ulcer. According to the NHS, this type of sore is caused by the contagious herpes virus HSV-1. Once caught, the virus lives inside your body for years, and certain triggers can activate it, causing a cold sore to develop. Triggers for the disease include illness, hormonal changes, stress and sunburn. Cold sores usually go away on their own within two weeks. Over-the-counter treatments are available to help the cold sore disappear more quickly.
You or your child can contract a cold sore from touching something that the virus has contaminated, such as a towel, toothbrush or eating utensils. Ensure that you wash your hands frequently; touching a cold sore may cause it to spread to other areas. Eating ice pops, rinsing with salt water and taking pain relievers can help you feel better until the sore goes away.
Oral Lichen Planus
Another oral condition not to be confused with a tongue ulcer is Lichen Planus. Lichen planus is an inflammatory skin condition, and those who have it will most likely experience symptoms on the legs and arms. However, lichen planus has the potential to affect your mouth and tongue as well, according to the NHS. Lichen Planus can look like white patches on your tongue or the inside of your cheeks and may feel tender or itchy. The cause of this condition is unknown, but an allergic reaction or infection may be a factor. Visit your doctor for medication, they may also prescribe light therapy to treat it.
At Home Treatment Options
A tongue ulcer will usually heal itself in around a week, however, there are a few things you can try to speed up the healing process. Visit your chemist for an anaesthetic gel or cream that contains lidocaine – these can help with pain and inflammation. You can also try using a mouthwash for ulcers that contains hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine and no alcohol. Rinsing your mouth with this solution can help to heal the sore faster.
If you’d prefer to try some natural at-home treatment methods, we’ve listed some for you here, however, be mindful that these methods aren’t scientifically backed and may not be effective or suitable for everyone.
Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater.
Rinse your mouth with a solution made from water and baking soda for 15-30 seconds.
Eat natural yoghurt.
Apply manuka honey directly onto the sore – don’t use this method for infants under 12 months.
Apply coconut oil to the sore several times a day until it clears.
Use a cool or warm chamomile tea bag as a compress on your tongue sore.
These are just a few of the methods you can try for tongue ulcer treatment, they may help with the pain and speed up your healing time!
Consult with a Healthcare Professional
Consult with a healthcare provider if a tongue ulcer lasts longer than two weeks or if you experience a skin rash, fever, difficulty swallowing or drooling in addition to the sore. If you find a tongue ulcer, lesion or lump, and if the development of the sore coincides with the start of a new medication or if the sore is accompanied by other symptoms, such as a strange taste in your mouth, difficulty swallowing or deep cracks within the tissue of the sore, seek treatment from a medical professional. A persistent sore could be an indication of a more serious condition.
A tongue ulcer is usually nothing to worry about, however, it’s always worth getting anything unusual checked by your dentist, this will help to put your mind at ease and get treatment as soon as possible.
We frequently believe that leading a healthy lifestyle entails eating a balanced diet and getting as much exercise as possible.
Although both are essential for good health, we frequently overlook the importance of oral health and how it affects our entire health. Oral diseases can have a severe impact on both our general health and our oral health.
To maintain your mouth in good health, you’ll need more than a toothbrush and floss. Genetics and systemic disorders are all factors that can affect how well your smile endures over time.
However, your daily behaviors might significantly impact your oral health. If your dental health is a concern, these easy lifestyle modifications can have a good impact on both your mouth and your overall health.
1. It Is Important to Maintain a Healthy Diet
A balanced diet is vital for overall health, but did you know that it also affects your teeth? It is critical to consume a variety of vegetables and fruits and wholegrain versions of starchy meals such as pasta, potatoes, and bread.
Beans, fish, meat, eggs, and some dairy should all be included as sources of protein. To keep teeth and gums healthy, one should avoid fat and sugar as much as possible. The vitamins and minerals found in these foods help to maintain dental health.
2. Restrict Tobacco Consumption
Tobacco Cigarettes and chewing tobacco use can negatively damage your oral health. According to a study, smoking may be responsible for 38.5 percent of gum disease progression. Gum disease can lead to tooth loss, severe pain, and systemic health issues if left untreated.
Tobacco usage can make your mouth dry, leading to tooth decay. It also discolors teeth and impairs taste and smell. Many smokers are entirely unaware of their foul breath! Tobacco, including cigarettes and other kinds of tobacco, is one of the most common causes of mouth cancer.
3. Limit Your Sugar Intake
Sugar is the most common cause of tooth decay. Bacteria in your mouth convert sugar to acids, which erode your teeth. Acids eat away at the surface of a tooth, eroding the enamel, weakening the tooth, and producing decay in the form of holes or cavities over time.
Worst of all, sugar is found in practically everything! As a result, it’s critical to study food labels and determine the specific contents of products; you might be shocked. The primary sugar sources are fizzy beverages/soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit juices, flavored milk, energy drinks, and some processed meals.
As a general rule, make sure you know what you’re eating: limit soft drinks, sip through a straw if at all feasible, brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash regularly.
4. Improve Your Brushing Habits
Inconsistent brushing practices can result in a wide range of oral health issues, including poor breath, mouth infections, cavities, tooth loosening, and more.
The PH of the oral cavity decreases after eating, activating harmful bacteria and putting oral health at risk. As a result, brushing or rinsing after meals is always recommended.
Brushing twice a day and using mouthwash afterward can help reduce plaque buildup on teeth. Plaque serves as an attachment platform for bacteria and a possible harmful location.
Tongue washing should be a part of our daily brushing routine to prevent the risk of diseases such as candidiasis, hairy tongue, halitosis, and others.
5. Visit Your Dentist Every Six Months
A dental visit is divided into two sections. As part of a standard checkup, the dentist will examine your whole oral condition, including your teeth, gums, and tongue. To obtain a better understanding of what’s going on within your mouth, they’ll take X-rays.
The dentist will then clean your teeth using various equipment such as scrapers and small mirrors to remove any plaque or tartar buildup. The dentist will provide you with a treatment plan and make appointments in case you need to wear any ortho appliances.
6. Consume a Lot of Water
Water, particularly fluoridated water, can aid in oral health. Drinking water helps wash away the germs and acid that cause tooth decay in your mouth. It also keeps your mouth moist, which prevents bacteria from forming.
If you want to reap even more benefits, rinse your mouth with water after each meal, particularly after eating sweet meals. This will aid in the removal of sugary food particles from your mouth, which can promote tooth decay.
When it comes to maintaining your teeth and gums, excellent dental hygiene is only the first step; you should also avoid cigarettes, get plenty of rest, stay active, and eat healthy meals to keep your smile in good shape.
