When it comes to oral hygiene, most people focus on how to make their teeth whiter. However, practicing the correct dental hygiene is paramount for preventing and treating gum diseases. Hence it would be best if you took care of your gums regularly. Research shows that gum diseases can cause the loss of teeth. The good news is that many inexpensive and simple ways can prevent and reverse gum diseases. The following healthy habits will help you take proper care of your gums and teeth.
Table of Contents
Brushing the Teeth Properly
Proper brushing of the teeth is the key to having healthy teeth and gums. According to American Dental Association (ADA), people are advised to follow the following prevent guidelines:
Your teeth should be brushed a minimum of two times daily using a toothbrush that has soft thistles. Fluoride toothpaste that the Dental Association has approved can be used in the brushing process.
Many people forget to replace their toothbrushes after every three months as recommended. If the bristles start to fray before the three months, then they should be immediately replaced.
Also, the teeth should be brushed at a 45-degree angle to your gums.
Similarly, press the toothbrush gently and ensure you move it in short, smooth strokes.
To clean the front teeth’ insides, it is advisable to turn the brush vertically and make several soft strokes along with every tooth.
Choose the Right Toothpaste
The market today is saturated with many toothpaste brands. Marketers will attract customers with a line such as the toothpaste that contains a whitening element or formulas with bicarbonates. To help you make the right choice that will benefit your teeth, always get the one with the ADA approval seal on the packaging, such as Colgate.
Floss Daily
Flossing daily is a healthy habit recognized by ADA. Daily flossing removes food particles and plaque between the teeth and gum. If allowed to remain, the food and plaque can lead to tartar, which a dentist can only remove.
Tartar is one of the major causes of gum diseases.
Carefully Rinse Your Mouth
Most people rinse their teeth out after thoroughly brushing their teeth using fluoride toothpaste. However, it is equally important to rinse your mouth after a meal as it helps in removing food and bacteria that can cause tartar.
Use a Mouthwash
There are two types of over-the-counter mouthwash: therapeutic and cosmetic. Mouthwash helps prevent gum disease, slow the rate of tartar build-up, minimize the amount of plaque on the tooth, and aids in removing food particles from the mouth. Mouthwash is not a replacement for flossing or brushing. To prove that you get a safe and effective mouthwash, look for the package’s ADA stamp of approval. Mouthwash is not recommended for children below six years.
Ensure You Get Regular Dental Checkups
Most people overlook the importance of visiting a dental clinic for a routine checkup. During the dental checkup, one gets a professional cleaning of the mouth to remove tartar from teeth. Also, the professional cleaning helps plaque removal that could have been missed when brushing teeth. During the visit, a dentist can quickly identify early signs of gingivitis and gum diseases. If detected early, the disease will be treated on time, preventing more severe complications from happening. In case an oral disease has developed to an advanced stage, the doctor may prescribe certain medication, which can help reverse damage to teeth and gums. A great place to obtain prescription drugs from is https://www.pricepropharmacy.com/ which offers the best medicines at prices much lower than most local drug stores.
Quit Smoking
Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking weakens a person’s immune system increasing the chances of getting gum diseases. Other products made from tobacco also increases the risk of getting gum disease.
Adopt a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet includes: eating fruits and vegetables high in fiber to help clean out the mouth, drinking green or black teas to minimize bacteria build-up, unprocessed daily products as they increase saliva production, and chewing sugar-free gum, which also increases saliva production.
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