Just as we strive to keep our bodies healthy, through exercise and healthy eating, we must focus on maintaining our oral health in the same way. Our mouth is not only our calling card through our smile, but it is also a sign of our health. Moreover, when we neglect its cleanliness when we neglect its cleanliness, it increases the risk of serious diseases such as diabetes and even heart disease..
For this reason, it is important to acquire and maintain a daily hygiene routine, brushing and flossing 3 times a day.. In today’s article we will talk about the importance of maintaining oral health and present the best tips to achieve it.
Why is it important to maintain oral health?
In essence, the most important thing we can mention about oral health is to prevent a person’s health and quality of life from deteriorating due to the appearance of cavities, gingivitis, gum disease, sores, etc., which, if not treated in time, can create a snowball effect and aggravate the normal state of the mouth and even spread to other parts of the body. spread to other parts of the body, such as the respiratory or cardiovascular system.. Oral infections can spread to other regions of the body.
In addition, the aesthetic part of the mouth is affected, the aesthetic aspect is affectedThe poor quality of hygienic care is reflected in the smile or breath, thus revealing that there is something wrong with the oral cavity. This also causes a decline in self-esteem due to the change in perception that others may have towards the person.
How can I take care of the health of my mouth?
It is not only about brushing your teeth 3 times a day, but also about doing it the right way, using dental floss and being careful with what you eat, but we will explain this in more detail in the following tips.
1. Brush your teeth correctly
We must have a correct brushing, but what does that mean? The bottom teeth should be brushed upwards and the top teeth downwards, the molars in circular movements and do not forget the tongue.. In addition, it should be done slowly and with gentle movements (to avoid causing pain and generating more complications) with a firm bristle toothbrush or special if you have any specific condition, which you should be sure to change every 3 months to avoid bacteria nesting and cleaning remains effective.
Why should you should you brush after every meal and before going to bed?? This is to prevent micro debris from accumulating between the teeth and generating problems in the gums, dirt or contribute to the appearance of cavities. A greater emphasis is placed on doing it before going to sleep to prevent bacteria from clinging more strongly to the mouth.
But you should be be careful to do it at least 20-40 minutes after ingesting food, since the mouth has a pHThe mouth has an alkaline pH and usually the food we eat is more acidic. So, when we eat or drink something, the pH of the mouth decreases and it takes some time to recover its alkalinity, during that time, the acid attacks the tooth enamel and if we brush immediately, this acid can spread throughout the mouth and teeth.
- To learn more: “Brushing your teeth right after eating: good or bad idea?”
As a recommendation, if you can’t wait that long to brush, then, the best thing to do is to chew a sugarless gum and rinse your mouth. This way the acid is washed away, thanks to the saliva generated by the chewing gum, which restores alkalinity faster.
2. Drink enough water
Drinking at least two liters of water dailynot only helps to keep us hydrated, but also to maintain oral health, since water acts as a protective barrier against the appearance of bacteria. The more hydrated we are, the greater the production of saliva and therefore the greater the protection we give to our mouth. On the contrary, the lack of liquid in the body allows the appearance of bacterial plaque and, therefore, an agglomeration of oral problems.
3. Reduce sugary drinks
Ever since we were children we have heard our parents say that sweets damage our teeth and this is not far from the truth, sugar damages tooth enamel and contributes to tooth decay.. The problem arises if we eat foods or sweets with a lot of sugar and we do not have good oral hygiene habits, because bacteria feed on this sugar, causing the release of acids that promote tooth decay.
How can we avoid this? When drinking coffee, tea or natural juices, it is preferable to sweeten them with natural products such as stevia or consume light varieties, which dispense with sugars and use artificial sweeteners. However, it remains unclear whether they are totally harmless to oral health.
4. Avoid temperature changes in food
Both very hot and very cold foods and beverages can also affect the health of our mouth. can also affect the health of our mouth, since it can damage the enamel of the teeth, generate lesions in the gums, tongues, cheeks and esophagus, cause dental sensitivity, vulnerability for the appearance and reproduction of bacteria. In this case, it is preferable to consume warm food and drink water at room temperature or water that is not frozen.
5. Reduce the intake of citrus fruits
Citrus fruits such as lemon, orange and grapefruit can be harmful to the teeth if consumed continuously, both in the form of fruit and in drinks. This is because The acidity they possess causes damage to tooth enamel, causes sensitivity or irritation of the gums and makes the mouth susceptible to the presence of bacteria.They generate sensitivity or irritation in the gums and make the mouth susceptible to the presence of bacteria.
Other beverages that you should reduce as much as possible are wine, coffee and tea because they have high tannin content that can stain the teeth, giving them a yellowish color that is unsightly, although this only occurs in cases of excessive consumption.
6. Use dental floss and mouthwashes.
Very rarely do we take seriously the importance of using dental floss to ensure excellent oral health, but this is a tool that favors us because it is responsible for cleaning all those microparticles in places that the bristles of the brushes are not able to reach. Mouthwash, on the other hand, cleans the mouth completely, but it is necessary to use it only once a day, it should be used only once a day as it can be very hard on the gums.. Make sure it contains fluoride to strengthen tooth enamel and the entire oral cavity.
To use dental floss effectively, wrap the ends of the floss around the index fingers of each hand and gently pass it between and around each tooth. Be sure to check for bleeding or bleeding, check for bleeding or swelling of the gums after flossing, as this is a sign of a serious dental problem.This is a sign of a problem that should be treated with the dentist.
7. Do not smoke
Tobacco, in itself, has many negative consequences for the body. Some of the best known are respiratory problems and cancer, but it also tends to weaken the strength and enamel of the teeth. weaken the strength and enamel of the teeth, as well as stain them.. This occurs due to nicotine, which causes the arteries to contract, resulting in less blood supply, oxygen and blood cells responsible for repairing and regenerating the support of the teeth, causing the appearance of bacterial plaque and loosening of the teeth.
8. Visit the dentist frequently
Many do not find going to the dentist at all pleasant, as we can have a hard time with the overwhelming sound of the cleaning machines and the pain that remains in our mouth. However, this is the most effective way to ensure our oral health, since the dentist is the only specialist capable of advising us and helping us to maintain and help us to maintain the necessary oral care for each personal case.
9. Do not bite your nails
Onychophagia is more common than it seems and occurs as a way to deal with anxiety and stress, as it helps the brain to distract itself. However, this bad habit causes wear and tear on the tooth enamel and leads to small lesions on the teeth, which in the long term causes sensitivity to hot and cold foods which, in the long term, causes sensitivity to both hot and cold foods and when chewing you may feel very intense pains.
Another important recommendation you should know is that you should never use your teeth to crack nuts, open packages or remove bottle caps, as this causes the teeth to break and wear down the enamel due to the pressure exerted.
10. Brush your tongue as well
In general, we tend to forget to clean our tongue because we do not find it important to do so, but this is a serious mistake. Although it is not a surface like the teeth, the tongue has small crevices where the pressure is exerted, the tongue has small crevices where bacteria accumulate and produce bad breath.. Therefore, it is essential to clean the entire area with the toothbrush from back to front to prevent food debris from sticking to the surface of the tongue and thus maintain good oral hygiene.
11. Say yes to vitamins
Vitamins not only help to strengthen our immune system or to maintain a good aesthetic care, but they can also reinforce oral health. In this case, it is recommended to ingest prescribed vitamins as well as foods rich in vitamins A, C, E and E. foods rich in vitamins A, C, D and K, as well as calcium, phosphorus and phosphorus.as well as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, allowing the gums to remain strong and prevent the onset of any disease. Resorting to vitamin supplements should only be done if recommended by a physician.
12. Protect your teeth from physical activities
Although your teeth may feel hard and resistant to the touch, they can fall out with a blow or a significantly heavy fall. It can also cause major injuries, blood vessel ruptures, fractures in the jaw bones or trauma to the teeth. Therefore, it is important, if you are involved in contact sports activities or where you may be at risk of an accident, to wear mouthguards.