The Best Daily Regimen for Optimal Oral Health
The Best Daily Regimen for Optimal Oral Health
The funny thing about oral hygiene practices is that as adults, most of us already know what we should be doing daily; it’s just really about putting that knowledge into practice. Did you know it takes only 10 days of repetition to form a new habit? While most of us may know a majority of the best practices for your optimal oral health, sometimes the extent of the reasoning behind each practice is unbeknown. More so, the actual impact (other than cavities) if not practicing efficient oral hygiene is even less commonly known.
Some Tips for Your Best Oral Health
Brushing Every Night
Brushing efficiently and daily is important; however, is it so essential to not leave food on your teeth when you go to bed. Have you ever heard of the phrase don’t go to bed angry? Well just imagine how angry your teeth and gums would be when you go to bed leaving them to battle bacteria and acids that lead to tooth decay. If you are not brushing your teeth and gums thoroughly, it is almost as detrimental to your teeth as not brushing at all (Academy of General Dentistry, 2016). Shocking isn’t it?
Flossing to Accompany Brushing
Flossing serves the purpose of reaching what is simply impossible for your toothbrush to reach. Tooth decay often starts in between your teeth and sadly effects both teeth because the bacteria spreads and rests on both teeth. By flossing we allow the food to break loose and lower the risk of plaque buildup. Flossing also allows you to reach below the gum line where foods get trapped.
Limit Sugary and Acidic Foods
Trying to avoid something all-together can lead to compulsive eating, so limiting your exposure to sugary and acidic foods is a much easier practice than completely avoiding those foods and binge eating them later. While sugar has an unsightly side effect on our waistlines, the damage it wreaks on our oral hygiene is just as unsightly. This in combination with not brushing your teeth before bed can compound the damage, in addition, to radically speed up the process of tooth decay. So, choose what you put into your mouth wisely. Eating sensibly goes a long way (Healthline Media, 2016).
Don’t Forget About Your Tongue
Your tongue can harbor a great deal of bacteria and acid from the foods you consume. Not including brushing your tongue in your daily oral hygiene routine is like taking a shower just to put back on your dirty clothes; it’s almost counterproductive. Think about it, you clean your teeth and gums and leave bacteria on your tongue that constantly touches your teeth and gums….makes sense to brush your tongue, huh? Something also to consider is using a mouthwash in your daily routine (Healthline Media, 2016). This can help with the bacteria left on your tongue…not to mention the side effect is better smelling breath, as bacteria is what causes bad breath.
Fluoride
While there has been a lot controversy over using fluoride the past couple decades, one thing is steadfast, it is by far the leading ingredient in fighting tooth decay most effectively. It is suggested that you not swallow the fluoride (which is why they suggest children under the age of 6 not use fluoride products). However, using fluoride products for mouth rinses and toothpaste lowers your risk of tooth decay by a large percentage. You will also noticeably feel the difference in the overall cleanliness of your mouth (Academy of General Dentistry, 2016). For your convenience, North Pointe Dental Associates provides dentistry in Tampa that not only addresses any procedures to meet your needs, they also inform you to address any concerns you may have. It is important to feel confident in your practices.
Drinking Water
It has shown that drinking more water daily lowers the risk of tooth decay. Drinking water and eating healthier foods like crunchy vegetables affect your health beyond the reach of your waistline, vitals and statistics; it is the best way to improve your overall oral health on a regular basis. What better way to prevent tooth decay than to lessen the amount of food issues in the first place? Crunchy vegetables help strengthen your teeth and their enamel versus soft foods (Healthline Media, 2016).
These are just some of the things you can do daily to give your oral health your best. Optimizing your oral health also requires professional assistance from your dentist. From maintenance cleanings to evaluation in your overall oral health, Tampa dentists at North Pointe Dental Associates go all-out in every spectrum of their practice to give their patients the most efficient dental treatments possible.
References:
Academy of General Dentistry. (2016). Know Your Teeth. Retrieved from http://knowyourteeth.com
Healthline Media. (2016). Healthline. Retrieved from http://healthline.com
