Tips For Improving Your Oral Health
Your oral health is often not prioritised, however it is absolutely vital for your overall health. Without making oral health an important part of your routine, it can lead to serious oral infections like tooth decay and gum disease. If you aren’t visiting your dentist, severe issues can also arise, like mouth cancer, that can go unidentified. This is such a simple change to help you become healthier. So, this is your sign to put your oral health first, and we’re here to show you how with these tips for improving your oral health.
Go To Your Dentist Every 6 Months
The first thing you should do to improve your health, which we can’t stress enough, is to go to your dentist every 6 months. Dentists are able to identify issues much earlier than you would be able to, meaning that treatment can begin and it will be much more cost-effective and straightforward than if you hadn’t been to your dentist and it got caught far too late. This is known as preventative dentistry, which involves seeing your dentist regularly to prevent issues from developing, rather than waiting for them to arise and then trying to resolve them. Many preventative dental clinics are also cosmetic dental clinics, so you can get everything in one place.
They can help to identify early signs of gum disease, tooth decay and mouth cancer, as well as diabetes which many people aren’t aware can be identified by a dentist. They can also help to provide personalised oral health advice and tell you areas that you might be neglecting, to help you look after your teeth and mouth between appointments. Overall, we can’t emphasise enough just how important visiting your dentist is, and don’t feel like you need to leave it 6 months if you are concerned about anything, as it’s better to be safe than sorry and just pay them a quick visit.
Use Flouride Based Products
Another thing that you should be doing is using fluoride-based oral health products. When you’re buying your toothpaste and mouthwash, check the ingredients to make sure that they contain fluoride, as this ingredient prevents tooth decay as the enamel becomes more resistant to the effects of acids on the teeth. Acids are found in so many foods and drinks that we consume, so helping to reduce the impact of them is really important.
You can find products that contain fluoride for any budget, and you might find that the products you use already contain fluoride as it is common. However, it is definitely worth double-checking. After you have brushed and used mouthwash containing fluoride, avoid eating or drinking for around 30 minutes, as this will give the fluoride a chance to take effect, so you are reaping the benefits as much as possible.
If you’re not sure which products are best to use, have a chat with your dentist and they will be more than happy to help.
Eat Less Sugary Foods
Something else that you can do to improve your oral health is to eat less sugary foods. When you eat lots of sugary foods and drinks, plaque bacteria in the mouth use the sugar to produce acids, which go on to attack the enamel in your mouth, leading to all sorts of issues like bacterial infections, tooth decay and gum disease.
So, quite simply, if you reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks, it will improve your mental health. Of course, we all eat some sugar, so just make sure you are drinking plenty of water to help wash away as much of the sugar as possible, and avoid eating or drinking for 30 minutes before you brush your teeth, as your teeth will be weak after consuming the sugar so this will give them some time to recover.
Start Flossing
Last but not least, you should make sure you start flossing if you don’t already. This helps to remove any food debris from between the teeth, as well as remove plaque from below the gum line which can cause serious issues when left untreated. It also reduces the risk of cavities, so it is really important that you floss once a day (ideally in the evening, so you are removing any food that builds up throughout the day).
The best way to floss is to take the string between your teeth and use a firm but gentle scraping motion down each of the teeth one at a time from the bottom to the top of the tooth. Make sure you do this between all of your teeth and your dentist will be very impressed when you next go in to visit.
