Oral hygiene—some general tips
Article Source: HealthSnare.com
Modern-day dentistry should be more about prevention than cure. Most people's ideal relationship with their dentist is a quick check-up every now and then to make sure that all's well. Of course, sometimes patients experience more serious complaints, and, in these cases, dentists are there to help. But you can significantly reduce your chances of being in this situation by keeping on top of your oral hygiene—plus, you'll look, feel and smell better, too!
Rules to live by
Oral hygiene 101: brush your teeth, at least twice a day! However, while most of us observe the standard after-breakfast and before-bed routine, it's also important to do it as effectively as possible. Choose a good toothbrush and preferably a fluoride toothpaste. Read up on, or ask your dentist about, how best to brush and be thorough about following this routine. For example, do you always brush the back sides of your front teeth? Do you brush for at least two full minutes?
Additionally brushing your actual teeth, brushing your tongue and even the inside of your cheeks removes a whole lot more bacteria from your mouth, improving both your breath and overall dental hygiene. Gently brushing your gums is also helpful for keeping them strong and free of bacteria. You might also want to try ‘flossing' in between your teeth with dental floss string, available from dentists' practices, chemists, or many supermarkets. This removes small particles of food stuck in between your teeth, which normal tooth brushing may not be able to reach. If food matter remains hidden in between your teeth for any significant length of time, it can actually begin to rot there and then in your mouth. This is a major cause of gum disease, dental decay, and, obviously, terrible breath. Another method to try is using mouthwash after brushing, which can further combat plaque, freshen your breath for longer and counteract bacteria and mucus build-up further down your throat.
You are what you eat
Another huge factor to consider with regards to oral hygiene is your diet, as this can greatly affect how much bombardment your teeth have to put up with. It's well known that sugar is not a friend of teeth, but did you know that sugary soft drinks such as cans of fizzy drinks or even vitamin water are often far worse for your teeth than eating sweets or chocolate? Or, that more important than precisely how much sugar you eat is how often, as regular (even if only small) intakes of sugar don't allow your teeth time to recover? Smoking can also be very harmful to the gums. On the positive side, we all know that milk is an excellent source of calcium, vital for the development of your teeth. For this reason, it's important that children get plenty of milk in their diet.
Follow these few guidelines as a matter of course and you'll be doing your teeth a huge favour in the long run.
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Bobby Taylor
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Date: Sun, 12 Sep 2010 Time: 11:14 PM
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