Maintaining healthy teeth and gums requires practising good oral hygiene and helps you look after yourself better. It entails routines like twice-daily brushing and biannual dental exams. But oral health is more than just preventing cavities and gum disease. As parents, the importance of looking after your teeth is something we reinforce on an almost daily basis to our eldest son Lewis.
With regular dental care, both at home and in the dentist’s office, people can avoid these teeth and gum issues, something that is very important in young children.
The following are some top techniques for maintaining healthy teeth and gums, but we’d always recommend you visit your dentist regularly and follow their advice to maintain the best oral health.
Brush frequently but not harshly
The majority of people are aware that one of the most crucial habits for removing plaque and bacteria and maintaining clean teeth is brushing at least twice a day. Indeed, some people my brush after every meal.
However, brushing might only be efficient if people employ the right method. Brushing should be done in small, circular motions with attention paid to the front, back, and top of each tooth. It takes two to three minutes to complete this.
Too-vigorous brushing or using a toothbrush with a rough bristle might harm the gums and tooth enamel. Gum erosion, tooth discomfort, and irreversible damage to the protective enamel on teeth are possible side effects. Indeed, being rough or using a poor quality or old toothbrush could result in bleeding gums which is far from ideal. Regular bleeding of your gums is however a sign of oral health problems.
Cut back on grains and sugary meals
Sugar consumption can cause cavities. Sweets and pastries are typical offenders, but many processed meals also include added sugar. Crackers, bread, chips, pasta, and other starchy foods can rot teeth. These foods remain in the mouth for a long time and decompose into simple sugars, which the bacteria that produce acid feed on.
Tooth decay may result from this acid. Try eating a lot of fibre-rich fruits and vegetables, as well as dairy products without added sugar, instead of starchy carbohydrates. Sugary foods in particular is something we ensure our kids have little off.
Avoid smoking
Smoking weakens the immune system of the body, making it more challenging for the body to recover tissues, including those in the mouth. Smokers are more likely to develop gum disease, and their wounds may take longer to heal following dental work. Smoking alters the way the mouth looks by causing the teeth and tongue to yellow and can make breath smell terrible.
Don’t forget to clean your tongue
Your tongue may also develop plaque. This may cause various issues with dental health in addition to poor breath. Every time you brush your teeth, gently brush your tongue as well. Some toothbrushes have a tongue brush on them which is worth considering investing in.
Straighten Your Teeth Without Braces
Having straight teeth has its advantages and not just that it looks good, it also helps when any other new teeth are coming in that they come in straight and don’t impact other teeth when your wisdom teeth come in for example.
You can get aligners to help straighten your teeth without the embarrassment or awkwardness that braces bring. You will have straight teeth in no time and when paired with the other tips above you will have a flawless smile to show the world.
Got Something to Add?
Oral health is something we reinforce every day to our kids. Whether it’s brushing properly, trying to eat the right foods or flossing, we do our best to maintain clean and healthy teeth. These are just some tips we have. Feel free to share your own with us in the comments tab below.
Until next time, thanks for reading and keep brushing!
Helen, Nial, Lewis and Mason.
Welcome to Pikalily, an award-winning food, travel and lifestyle blog. We are Nial and Helen, a happily married couple from Northern Ireland, who share a passion for food and travel among many things. We became parents to our beautiful boy Lewis in 2017. Follow our adventures through the blog.
