Ways of Keeping up with Your Mouth’s Health?
The mouth serves numerous functions. It’s important for mastication, speech and facial aesthetics. The teeth, jaw bone and jaw muscles are the core structures in the mouth and any impairment to these parts impairs your oral health. Teeth are among the most vulnerable tissues in the mouth. They are susceptible to traumatic injury and decay. Moreover, the gums that hold the teeth in place are not spared from injury. Maintaining good oral health is an active process. Most people limit good oral health to good oral hygiene but it goes beyond that. Here are some ways to keep up with your mouth’s health.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene is perhaps the most widely known method of maintaining oral health. It’s also the most convenient and effective way of ensuring your gums and teeth are not at risk of infection or decay. There are several ways to attain and maintain good oral hygiene including
- Brushing your teeth after every meal
- Using dental floss at least once a day
- Using a mouth wash
- Professional cleaning
Good oral hygiene ensures the bacteria in your mouth do not cause harm to your teeth. It stops the formation of cavities and ensures your gums are free of gingivitis.
Eat the right food
The phrase, you are what you eat holds true when it comes to oral health. Some foods are bad for your teeth while others promote oral health. Foods rich in vitamin D and calcium help grow strong teeth. Deficiency in these nutrients can result in dental caries and brittle teeth. Vitamin D supplementation in children has been shown to reduce the incidence of dental caries by over 40%. Vitamin C, found in tomatoes, citric fruits, peppers, spinach and broccoli, promotes gum health. Also eggs, fish, dairy and other foods rich in phosphorus are good for strong teeth.
When it comes to foods that are bad for your oral health, the list is long. Any food with processed sugar leaves your teeth vulnerable to dental caries and gingivitis. The foods include candy and carbonated drinks. Although citric fruits are packed with vitamin C, excessive consumption of these acidic fruits can erode the enamel and increase the risk of developing dental caries, Moderation should be exercised in the consumption of citric fruits and it’s important to rinse your mouth following consumption. Contrary to the common belief that hard fruits make your teeth strong, dentist advise against taking hard food as they can traumatize your teeth and gums. It’s advisable to chop hard food into smaller pieces that are convenient for chewing.
Go to the dentist
Dentists play a key role in maintaining oral health. Their functions range from assessing your oral health status to managing dental conditions that affect your oral health. It’s important to have a dental check-up at least twice a year since your oral health can slowly decline overtime and go unnoticed. Sometimes only a professional eye can pick out problems surrounding your teeth. If you have dental problems, your dental appointments may be more. Dentist also provide professional help and advice that are important in maintaining oral health. Moreover, they offer suitable solutions to individuals with conditions that impair the aesthetics surrounding their mouth. It’s advisable for every individual to be on follow up by a specific dentist to ensure dental management is consistent.
For good oral health, you cannot choose one approach over the other. You must maintain proper oral hygiene, eat well and see the dentist for the best results. Compromise on one and your oral health will certainly be at risk.
