Dental hygiene has become very important today for everyone. People are more aware about the benefits of dental hygiene and protecting their teeth and gums. However, there are still many people who don’t have a clue about how to protect teeth. This article will give you some simple tips that you can include in your daily lifestyle and protect your teeth from decay.
Brushing and flossing
- Spend at least 3 minutes while brushing your teeth and brush them at least twice a day.
- When you are brushing your teeth, keep the head of your toothbrush facing towards your gums at an angle of 45 degrees. Move your brush up and down; never brush sideways.
- Floss your teeth every time you brush them as this helps to remove food particles from between teeth where the brush cannot reach.
- Replace your toothbrush every few months when you notice the bristles getting frayed or discolored. Never use a brush for more than six months.
- Use toothpaste that has fluoride and use a good mouthwash after brushing your teeth.
Eating the right food
- Consume food that will not damage your teeth much. If you cannot stop eating certain tooth-damaging food items, at least try to find alternatives for them.
- Avoid eating pop-corn kernels, ice cubes and frozen ice candies as they can result in cracking of your teeth.
- Cut down on aerated soft drinks as they erode the tooth enamel.
- Consuming too much coffee or tea can stain your teeth, so reduce your consumption of these drinks.
- If you cannot stop taking tea or coffee, at least try not to have them too hot or too cold as this is when they can seep in the crevices of your teeth and will be difficult to remove.
Follow good habits
- Use your teeth only for biting and chewing your food and not anything else.
- Don’t use your teeth for opening bottle caps, cracking the shells of nuts, chewing on the caps of pens and tearing clothing tags. This can result in loosening your teeth.
- Stop smoking or at least reduce the number of smokes in a day. Smoking results in staining of the teeth and also causes gum diseases.
- Don’t clinch or grind your teeth as a way to express your anger. It can cause severe and even permanent damage to your teeth.
- Avoid eating or nibbling on food throughout the day as it will promote decay.
Regular check-ups
- Visit your dentist at least twice in a year.
- Your dentist can detect signs of tooth decay and help you take the necessary preventive action and fix your teeth.
- Don’t ignore other health problems. Stomach infections and some gastrointestinal diseases are known to erode the enamel on your teeth.
- Consult your doctor about the side-effects that any of your medicines might have on your teeth.
- Get in touch with you dentist without delay if you happen to notice symptoms of tooth decay such as tooth ache or sensitivity towards hot and cold food.
