subject: Keep Your Teeth Healthy [print this page] Healthy teeth and gums reflect a healthy personality. Poor oral health damages our self-esteem beside various harmful effects it has.
Brush your teeth twice regularly: Brush your teeth twice a day to avoid majority of dental problems.
Use a dental floss: Flossing cleans the areas which are harder for a toothbrush to reach. It removes the food debris and plaque accumulated between the teeth. Flossing twice daily is preferable.
Use mouth wash: Mouth washes such as Listerine and chlorohexedine posses effective antiseptic properties. They kill the bacterial plaque known to cause bad breath, tooth decay and gingivitis. Use a mouthwash after brushing as per its directions.
Eat right: Maintain a balanced diet but reduce the consumption of foods containing sugars or starch. Sugary Foods (Candies, gums) and Starchy foods (potato chips, snacks) play an important role in causing tooth decay.
Avoid in between eating habits: Snacking between meals makes the teeth prone to tooth decay. The bacterial action is greatest at acidic Ph. The Ph is most acidic immediately after meals and gradually reduces and comes to a normal level. Eating in between meals does not allow the acidic level to come down increasing bacterial action leading to caries.
Avoid Cola and Energy Drinks: Cola drinks contain acids such as phosphoric acid and citric acid which have damaging effect on teeth. Energy drinks contain organic acids in addition to the above which directly damage the tooth calcium. Energy drinks and commercial lemonade are 11 times more harmful to teeth cola drinks. If you must drink, dont sip on them for a long time and do rinse your mouth after drinking
Quit smoking: Smoking not only stains your teeth but also damages your gums by reducing the blood supply. It also causes smokers breath
Chewing Sugar free Gum: Chewing Sugar free gum prevents bad breath and fights tooth decay by washing away the plaque acid resulting in healthier teeth.
Oral piercing: Oral Piercings such as tongue or lip are a no-no for good oral health. Tongue piercings can lead to allergic reactions, infections, nervous damage to tongue and gum disease.
Regular visit to dentist: It is essential to visit your dentist once in 3-6 months to diagnose any oral concerns early. Most oral health problems do not produce any symptoms till they have progressed to a later stage.
With todays modern dentistry, there are many techniques available to help you sort out your dental problems.
