Brushing, rinsing, and flossing are the basic requirements of good oral health. However, excessive consumption of harmful food items coupled with bad oral habits wreak havoc on our teeth and gums. Fortunately, maintaining a healthy mouth doesn’t require expensive surgical procedures and only demands that we adopt a few, healthy habits.
According to a report published by the National Institute of Dental Craniofacial Research, maintaining good oral hygiene leads to a number of positive effects on the rest of the body. Here are 4 simple ways you can keep your mouth healthy and disease free!
Step up Your Brushing Game
Despite the dentists’ advice, very few of us actually brush twice a day. By not brushing before going to bed, we allow the buildup of plaque and bacteria to damage our teeth and gums throughout the night. Also, the proper way of brushing is to hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle towards the gum line and use gentle, circular motions. Each tooth should be brushed around 10 times but be careful not to overdo it or press too hard against the teeth otherwise you risk eroding your gum line.
Ideally, you’d want to use a soft bristled brush that won’t damage the gums. Replace it after two or three months or when the bristles start to bend.
Kick the Smoking Habit
Smoking literally kills and there’s no time better than today to kick the habit. Tar and nicotine found in cigarettes eat away at the gums and cause the teeth to turn yellow. Smoking makes it easier for bacteria and plaque to fester inside the mouth especially along the gum line. This leads to gum loss, bone structure degradation, tooth loss, and can even lead to oral cancer.
Floss Everyday
Similar to brushing, there’s a right way to floss and a wrong way. Doing it the wrong way causes friction between the teeth and damages the gum line. Wrap around a foot worth of floss around the index fingers and keep a distance of two inches in between. Press the floss tightly against the tooth to remove plague and use a fresh line for each tooth.
No More Soda
Fizzy drinks may have become a staple of our meals but that doesn’t make it any less dangerous. Citric and phosphoric acid eats away at the surface of the teeth and make it soft and prone to infections and cavities. Instead, switch to drinking water with crushed berries, sliced citrus or mint leaves.
Maintaining good oral hygiene can keep you protected against a number of serious health complications. West Hills Smiles are qualified dentists in Woodland Hills, California that provide a range of dental solutions allowing people to have healthier and stronger gums and teeth. Contact us today for more information.