Best Practices for Healthy Teeth & Gums

Dental care is one of the most underrated practices by an individual when it comes to personal hygiene/routine care. There are several dental problems like toothache, gum diseases, cavities, stained teeth, bad breath that arises when you do not pay attention to the importance of dental care on daily basis. As one of the major survival functions i.e. of eating/chewing food is incomplete without a healthy set of teeth and gums, having routine dental care should become the priority of every individual be it children, adults, or senior citizens.

In this blog, we will be mentioning best practices for keeping your teeth and gums healthy.

1. Fluoride toothpaste: Human teeth are covered by the coating of enamel which mostly gets affected by the acid released by the build-up of dental plaque on your teeth. This dental plaque does not only harm the enamel but also causes cavities in the teeth. Brushing your teeth with fluoride-based toothpaste prevents your teeth from decaying.
2. Keep your gums clean: Just as teeth, the dental plaque gets build up on and around your gums and so it becomes equally important to keep your gums clean. To prevent severe gum diseases, you must:

• Brush your teeth twice a day using fluoride-based toothpaste
• Floss on a regular basis
• Go for routine check-up and teeth cleaning to your dentist
• Give up on your smoking habit

3. Brush your teeth properly: There is no rocket science involved behind properly brushing your teeth; it takes zero effort to gently brush your teeth in a circular motion which will help in eliminating the dental plaque. Have a habit of replacing your toothbrush after every 3-4 months.
4. Increase intake of water: Water is considered to be the universal source for reducing thirst and also is one of the healthiest liquids an individual can blindly rely on. Consuming little water or rinsing or mouth with water after eating your meal helps in discarding the harmful effects of sticky and acidic food.
5. Cut down sweet & acidic food: Sugar when consumed gets transformed into an acidic form which can lead to the destruction of enamel and ultimately forming cavities in your teeth. Acidic food like fruits, tea, and coffee are also proven to be harmful to enamel.
6. Avoid the risk of oral cancer: An individual can reduce the risk of oral cancer in the following ways:

• Say no to tobacco-based products such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or even consuming tobacco by chewing it
• Keep your alcohol consumption under control
• Stop covering your lips along with sunscreen

7. Always use a mouthwash: Many individuals are still not aware of the concept of using mouthwash and its importance. Mouthwash when used in a daily routine can help re-mineralizing the teeth, reduces the acidic amount in the mouth, and cleans up the area around the gums.
8. Eat fresh fruits & vegetables: Replace your ready-to-eat, ready-to-cook food with fresh fruits and vegetables that contain healthy fibers and are considered to be the finest choice for your teeth as well.

Conclusion: Routine dental check-ups can help you with avoiding severe dental problems in the future. We recommend you to visit your dentist at least twice a year even if you are not facing any dental problems. Precaution is always better than cure!