Wondering what is the best way to take care of your teeth? You’re in the right place! Read through to know more.
How to take care of your teeth?
You can enjoy your food more if you have healthy teeth and gums. It also plays a big role in your overall well-being. Taking good care of your teeth and gums prevents serious issues like tooth decay and gum disease as well.
Here are the great ways you can do to take care of your teeth and gums.
- Brush two times a day.
The easiest way to take care of your teeth is to brush them regularly. This may be easy, but you should do it properly to get the best result.
The right way is to position your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle over the gum line. This will ensure that you brush both the tooth surface and gum line. Then brush your teeth in a gentle circular motion. Do this for two minutes. Make sure that all the teeth surfaces are cleaned, including the back of your third molars.
After brushing, don’t forget to clean your tongue and the roof of your mouth. This helps in preventing bacteria build-up that can cause bad breath. Do this twice a day for maximum cavity protection.
Flossing at least once a day removes plaque and food debris between your teeth and under the gums. Dental floss can reach deep areas that a normal brush cannot.
Fluoride is a natural mineral present in various toothpaste brands. This mineral can strengthen your tooth enamel. As a result, it makes your teeth less sensitive and less prone to tooth decay.
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash
Using an antibacterial mouthwash helps in removing bacteria and prevents plaque build-up. This also gives you that cool and fresh breath feeling.
- Stay away from tobacco
Staying away from tobacco products is beneficial not just for your teeth, but for your body as well. Smoking or taking smokeless tobacco is proven to have harmful side effects. This includes tooth decay, oral cancer, pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer, and other diseases.
- Avoid too much tea, coffee, and sodas
Coffee and tea have nutritional benefits on your body. But taking too much of anything is bad. Too much tea and coffee cause teeth stain and discoloration.
For soda, it contains ingredients that weaken your teeth. This leads to problems like tooth cavities, sensitivity, and even tooth decay.
- Limit sugary foods
When you take sugary foods, the bacteria will your mouth break down the sugars and create acids. This leads to an acid build-up in the teeth. To avoid this, make sure you brush your teeth soon after eating any sweet treat.
- Eat healthy foods
The teeth are like bone that contains calcium. Taking calcium-rich foods like beans, almonds, and orange juice helps in keeping the teeth strong. Other healthy foods also help in keeping your teeth and gums healthy.
- Replace toothbrush
Replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. It can be sooner when you had an illness or when the bristles are worn out. A worn-out bristle cannot clean your teeth effectively. In addition, not changing your toothbrush will make it a perfect home for bacteria.
- Visit a dentist regularly
Visiting your dentist once or twice a year is a must. During these visits, your dentist will examine and identify possible teeth and gum problems. You can have your teeth cleaned as well. Professional dental cleaning removes build-ups that tooth brushing cannot. This includes tartar build-up.
To give your teeth the best treatment, it is important to use products that fit your needs. Continue reading to know more about the different oral health care products.
What toothbrush should you use?
Most dentists recommend soft-bristled toothbrushes. A soft-bristled toothbrush effectively removes plaque without causing tooth or gum abrasion.
When choosing between a manual or electric toothbrush, you can use any of these two. Both have their pros and cons. But as long as you brush properly, both can remove plaque effectively.
You should also consider the size of the toothbrush head and handle when buying one. Choose a toothbrush head depending on your mouth size. Look for an easy-to-grip handle as well. This will ensure that you can comfortably reach and clean every surface of your teeth.
Types of Toothpaste
Toothpaste comes in different flavors, colors, and purposes. You can choose from these types of toothpaste depending on your need.
- Fluoride Toothpaste – This is the most recommended by dentists. Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps protect your teeth against cavities and tooth decay.
- Whitening Toothpaste – This toothpaste contains gentle abrasive agents. These abrasives scrub the stains and yellowish color out of your teeth. It is perfect especially for people who consume tea and coffee regularly.
- Sensitivity Toothpaste – Having sensitive teeth lead to pain while eating or drinking. This type of toothpaste helps by blocking the nerves in your teeth from sensing hot and cold. But it takes 3 to 4 weeks to see the full effect, so your patience is needed.
- Tartar Control Toothpaste – Tartars are calcified plaques. This toothpaste has anti-calculus agents that delay the calcification of plaques, giving you more time to remove them.
- Herbal Toothpaste -If you want a more natural option, you can use herbal toothpaste. This type is made of all-natural ingredients, which makes it biodegradable as well. But it is also important to look for a brand that contains a small amount of fluoride. Fluoride-free toothpaste will not effectively protect your teeth against decay.
- Children’s Toothpaste – This toothpaste contains less fluoride and abrasives. This also comes in fun flavors and colors that make brushing more enjoyable.
Types of Mouthwash
Just like toothpaste, mouthwashes also come in different varieties and purposes.
- Cosmetic Mouthwash – This mouthwash makes your breath smell fresher. This can also rinse away remaining food particles. But unlike other mouthwash, this doesn’t have germ-killing properties.
- Fluoride Mouthwash – This mouthwash contains sodium fluoride that strengthens the teeth. But with toothpaste having fluoride, using this mouthwash can cause harm. Too much fluoride ingestion can lead to bad effects like brittle bones and thyroid problems.
- Antiseptic Mouthwash – This is perfect for people with mouth infections. Antiseptic mouthwash contains chlorhexidine gluconate that prevents bacterial growth in the mouth. This also helps in healing mouth sores. However, only use this if necessary. Using antiseptic mouthwash for too long can cause teeth discoloration.
- Natural Mouthwash – Most natural mouthwashes are made of essential oils, herbs, salt, and other natural ingredients. This does not have a burning sensation because it does not contain fluoride and alcohol. However, it still has the same benefits.
- Prescription Mouthwash – This mouthwash is perfect for people with gum disease. This kills harmful mouth bacteria, fights gingivitis, and reduces gum swelling and bleeding.
Types of Dental Floss
- Unwaxed Floss – This is one of the most common types of floss. Unwaxed floss is also thinner and has no artificial flavors. This is perfect for people with small gaps between their teeth. However, this type is more prone to breaking compared to other types of floss.
- Waxed Floss – This floss is similar to the unwaxed floss but with added waxed layer. This layer makes it easier to glide between teeth. However, this is thicker and more difficult to slide in small gaps.
- Dental Tape – This floss is a lot thicker compared to other types. This is perfect for people who have bigger teeth gaps. It also has waxed and unwaxed versions.
- Polytetrafluorethylene Floss (PTFE) – This floss uses Polytetrafluorethylene, a smooth and strong material. This can easily glide between small gaps of crowded teeth. But many dentists don’t recommend this. The extended use of PTFE can compromise your immune system.
- Super Floss – This type of floss is designed for people with braces, bridges, and wide teeth gaps. It is composed of spongy floss, regular floss, and a floss threader.
Takeaway
Having healthy teeth and gums is important. There are many ways to keep your teeth healthy like brushing, flossing, using fluoride toothpaste, and many more. But remember to always choose a product that fits your needs. Follow these tips to have strong gums and healthy white teeth.