The term “oral health” refers to a realm that includes the teeth, tongue, gums, throat and so forth. It describes how you take care of the various parts of your mouth to keep them clean and as disease and bacteria-free as possible. Several practices constitute maintaining good oral health. One of them is making sure that you go to the dentist enough times during the year. The recommended frequency of dental visits is one every six months or twice a year. If you can get to the dentist more than that, you’re doing great.
Another way to maintain good oral health, of course, is to brush your teeth at least two times a day, rinse whenever you eat a meal or snack and make sure that you floss. Many people skip flossing, and such people later have issues with plaque buildup and other problems. You should brush the teeth at least twice a day and clean them for at least two minutes each time to work the fluoride into them.
Positive oral health practices include eliminating some things from your life, as well. Three things that you can cut to preserve your oral health are cholesterol, cigarette smoking and high-sugar foods. Cigarette smoking leaves stains and coats of nicotine on the teeth. Sugar attacks the teeth enamel, and high cholesterol can cause your gums to swell and bleed among other problems.
You can lower your cholesterol by increasing your daily intake of fiber, exercising, and keeping your fat intake low. You can also count the cholesterol on your food labels and make sure that you don’t take in more than 200 milligrams in a day. Making those few changes can cause a huge difference in your overall life. These are six of the ways that making those changes can benefit you.
1. It Will Prevent Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a word that refers to inflamed gums. If one does not treat gingivitis when it strikes, it can then develop into full-blown gum disease. The symptoms of gingivitis include red or swollen purple gums, easily bleeding gums and bad breath. The top cause of this condition is poor dental hygiene, so performing some of the previously mentioned actions can help you immensely. Additionally, you can improve your situation by eating right and staying mindful of any medications that you may take. If you are smoking, now would be an excellent time to stop as it increases the risk of gingivitis and gum disease.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]2. You Will Have a Brighter Smile
By ceasing smoking habits and brushing and flossing more frequently, you are improving the overall look of your smile. Your teeth will stay whiter, and that whiteness will reflect every time you smile at someone. It will emit a light in the room wherever you go. Visiting your dentist for timely and regular cleanings will help you maintain that naturally clean look. Additionally, you can ask your dentist to polish your teeth and apply a whitening agent to take it a step further. Ultimately, it starts with you caring for yourself, though. The key is to get the teeth as white as possible naturally before you add anything extra. Using a toothpaste that has baking soda and peroxide in it will help you immensely.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]3. You’ll Have Longer Lasting Teeth
Your adult teeth will naturally last longer if you put some extra effort into taking care of them. You don’t have to lose teeth just because you age. You can build their strength by increasing your practices of cleaning them properly and taking the nutrients that you need to promote healing.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]4. Less Cavities Will Appear
If you put a stronger focus on your oral health, you will build up a defense that will block harmful bacteria from eating away at your enamel and other surfaces. The result will be fewer cavities that pop up. Cavities are destructive pits and holes that eventually grow larger and cause a heap of destruction if the dentist does not treat them immediately. Most dentists recommend fillings to try to take care of cavities first. If those fillings don’t work, the next solution may be a root canal or extraction. You always want to keep yourself ahead of the game by not letting your problem advance that far.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]5. Virtually No Bad Breath
Bad breath can come from a variety of factors that pertain to the way that you maintain your oral health. For example, smoking can dry your mouth out significantly, which can cause a depletion in your saliva supply, which can give you bad breath. Disease, bacteria buildup and bleeding gums cause bad breath, as well. Thus you’ll need to stay assertive in terms of taking care of your mouth and improving your lifestyle if you want to make your dental health improve. Furthermore, you can chew on things that will promote saliva production and keep your mouth moist. Cinnamon flavored gum is a great item.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]6. Smoking Cessation Will Boost Pulmonary Functions
Putting the axe to the cigarette smoking can do a lot of positive things for your health. One thing it will do is improve your pulmonary functions. You’ll find that you’ll start to breathe better, sleep better and smell better when you give cigarettes the boot from your life. Aside from that, you’ll stop developing stains on your teeth, and you will not have the dreaded “nicotine breath” that many people disapprove of. There are many things that smoking cessation can do for you. Try it and see how much better your oral health and physical health can become.
Now you know of some of the top ways that you can keep excellent oral health and how those methods can benefit you. It’s never too late to start getting your oral health in check. You can try some of the methods as mentioned earlier, and you can make sure that you see a reputable dentist regularly so that he or she can check for harmful issues. You can manage to keep your teeth for many years and improve your overall health just by taking a few steps. Your dentist will help you achieve your goals.
