Your oral health and hygiene is directly related to the health and strength of your body. Unless you have strong, intact teeth to help you properly chew your food, poor digestion and inadequate nutrition could keep you from enjoying your meals and staying fit and active. Review the following five tips to make sure you are doing everything you can to keep your teeth, gums and body in top condition.
Brush regularly and often
The minimum number of times you should brush your teeth is twice a day, but that is really not enough to make sure you are getting the maximum benefits of brushing. Try instead to brush after every meal and snack. If you do a thorough job of removing food particles from between your teeth, there is less chance that the ever-present bacteria in your mouth will secrete the enamel-eroding acids they use to break down food residue.
Use dental floss
Even the most careful job you can do while brushing your teeth can leave bits of food stuck in the hard-to-reach places between your teeth and gums. Dental floss helps remove these particles before they become food for bacteria. Pay particular attention to the spaces between the teeth and gums in the back of your mouth.
Take care of your gums
Normal, healthy gum tissue usually feels soft and looks pinkish. If you notice that areas around your teeth are becoming hard, red, inflamed and sensitive, you could be developing gingivitis. This condition occurs with the buildup of plaque on the teeth near the gum line, and it can also develop if you brush or floss improperly.
Eat healthy
The kinds of beverages you drink and the food you eat directly affect your tooth health and strength. The oral bacteria that produce plaque and cause cavities thrive on sugar. Regularly eating sticky, sweet candy or drinking sugar-sweetened beverages can contribute to cavities and other oral health issues. Consuming a well-balanced diet of low-sugar or naturally sweetened foods such as vegetables and fruits helps promote a healthy set of teeth and gums.
Have regular dental checkups
Visiting a dentist at the first sign of a problem and for regular checkups every six months is crucial for maintaining a healthy mouth, body and lifestyle. A family dentist in pembroke pines or your local dentist can stop small oral issues before they grow into much more extensive, debilitating and expensive ones.