Unless a tooth actually starts to hurt, most people do not pay much attention to their oral health. Unfortunately, this is a very short-sighted and potentially destructive perspective. In fact, it is far better to take a proactive approach to one’s oral health. In particular, there are some habits that will help a person to accomplish this goal. Here are a few of the more notable ones:
- Brush after meals – By removing the solid particulates that lodge themselves somewhere in the recesses of your mouth through brushing, a patient leaves less substrate for germs to grow on. The end result is less germs in your mouth – and subsequently less tooth decay. This advice is especially relevant if you are a regular drinker of highly acidic beverages such as orange or grapefruit juices. These substances are notorious for their deleterious effects on tooth enamel if left in place on an overnight basis. At the very least, rinse your mouth out with water before going to bed.
- Floss before bedtime – Brushing is important but it does not usually reach every crevice between your teeth. Instead, flossing is also a necessary task that should be done every night. In fact, flossing removes over 40% of the plaque and bacteria that causes tooth decay. In other words, if you are not committed to flossing every night, you are only doing half of the job of proper dental hygiene.
- Pay attention to your gums – The teeth are not the only area where someone concerned about oral health should confine their interest. Instead, they should also be looking at the general health of the guns that house the teeth. Gum disease – or periodontal disease as it is more accurately known – is a major reason for complete tooth loss. The recession of gums removes the much of the support for teeth, they weaken and then they fall out. Any problems in this area should be dealt with immediately.
- Stop smoking – While this advice is not pertinent to everyone reading this blog, there are enough regular smoker to make the advice highly relevant. Smoking does more than just stain your teeth, it also severely weakens them especially if they are already damaged. In particular, smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream and the gums are subsequently affected causing them to not heal as rapidly as possible.