Maintaining good oral hygiene is the foundation of strong teeth and gums. When neglecting your teeth and gums, you’ll start to see those niggling imperfections uncovering your teeth and gums, which will require urgent visits to the dentist.
It’s not just all about how your teeth and gums look. Research continues to link oral health with your overall health, and a lack of care for your teeth and gums will impact and build external conditions.
Understanding what healthy teeth look like can differ from person to person. Generally, good signs of healthy teeth include firm, pink gums and strong dental tissue, teeth with no imperfections such as niggling chips and cracks and a pain-free mouth. You can also run your tongue over your teeth to determine if the surfaces are smooth.
The Five Tips For Strong Teeth And Gums
If you’re struggling to maintain strong oral health, here are five tips for healthy teeth and gums.
Brushing And Flossing
Brushing your teeth twice a day is important, but what is also important is flossing. Many people clean their teeth for the sake of brushing them rather than paying attention to all the contours of their teeth. Food can quickly become lodged between your teeth, and collecting it with a soft bristle brush might be tough. Plaque, a sticky material that causes tooth decay, can form when food debris becomes caught on teeth. You can avoid this by flossing to catch those stubborn particles.
Regular Dental Check-Ups
It is highly recommended that you schedule six-monthly dental checkups with your dentist. This helps your dentist to detect any tooth issues and provide dental advice while ensuring that your mouth remains healthy. Leaving problems untreated can make them more difficult to treat later, and the dentist is in the greatest position to notice any issues early on and prevent them from becoming a problem.
Examine Your Mouth
Become familiar with your mouth throughout the day and look for any indicators of oral disease. Ideally, you should search for spots, swelling, or lesions developing anywhere in your mouth. These could indicate diseases, including gum disease, cavities, or loose teeth. This is also something to consider if you see your teeth grinding or wearing down while eating or speaking. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t go to the dentist; in fact, getting a second opinion from someone who knows what they’re doing is crucial. Your job is to make sure any signs are identified and treated as soon as possible by the dentist.
Reduce Sugar, Carbohydrates And Acids
For many people, sugar and carbohydrates is a great guilty pleasure. The more sugar you ingest, though, the more harm you cause to your teeth. Sugar and carbohydrates cause an acid attack, which can cause your enamel to deteriorate. The enamel is the strong outer covering of your teeth that protects them from discolouration and dangerous substances. If your enamel deteriorates, it can no longer protect your teeth, putting you at risk of decay.
Avoid Smoking And Alcohol
Smoking is a culprit for discolouration, dental plaque build-up and oral cancer. It also reduces your mouth’s ability to heal from treatments. Alcohol can cause dry mouth as well, meaning a reduction in saliva production which can allow bacteria and plaque to build faster. Alcohol and smoking can contribute to eventual tooth loss as well. Therefore, consider dropping these habits entirely.
If you’ve not visited the dentist for a while, it is time to get yourself checked up. An added benefit of visiting the dentist is gaining knowledge about your teeth and gums from a dental professional. This can help you adopt better lifestyle habits to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy for longer.
If you’re due for a check-up and want healthy teeth, get yourself checked in with a local dentist now