Daily Habits That Improve Oral Health at Any Age: A person's smile is often one of the first things noticed about him or her, but oral health includes much more than how a person's teeth or gums look. The choices made every day by individuals throughout their lifetimes regarding their oral health have an impact on the total overall health of an individual. Research is still being conducted to identify the links between oral health and other diseases/conditions, including heart disease, type II diabetes, and even cognitive ability in older individuals.
Fortunately, creating and maintaining a healthy mouth can be accomplished without changing lifestyle dramatically or spending a lot of money on dental treatments. Consistent adherence to simple oral hygiene practices will help create healthy teeth and gums for the life of a person, no matter their stage of life.
The Foundation: Brushing Beyond the Basics
Since we were children, we have been taught to brush our teeth twice per day, but many people do not take their time when brushing their teeth. Most people rush through their brushing routine, and, unfortunately, this results in ineffective tooth brushing. In order to properly brush your teeth, you need to brush for at least two minutes, twice each day, at a time when you are able to do so gently in a circular motion, as opposed to aggressively back and forth.
A good brushing technique is important, but it is equally important that you brush at the right angle. When brushing your teeth, place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gum line so that the bristles of the toothbrush can sweep the plaque away where your gums meet your teeth. Don't forget to brush your tongue, because bacteria on your tongue contribute to bad breath and tooth decay. You should replace your toothbrush every three months.
For people who have difficulty using the proper brushing technique, electric toothbrushes provide an alternative. There are a variety of different types of electric toothbrushes, and some of them have timers and pressure sensors that prevent excessive brushing. These types of toothbrushes are especially helpful for children, older adults, or anyone who has limited ability to grip or maneuver their toothbrush.
Flossing: The Non-Negotiable Daily Task
If brushing is the basis for good oral health, then flossing is the supporting structure of that foundation. Floss will clean those narrow spaces between teeth that your toothbrush cannot. If you do not floss, approximately 35% of your tooth surfaces will not be cleaned.It's important to make flossing a priority. You can use traditional string/floss picks or water flossers.
You should have the same routine each day regardless of the type of device you use. Some people find that they are more thorough at night rather than in the morning because they feel rushed during the morning. To use floss properly, place the floss between your two teeth using a back and forth motion. When you have done this, you should bend the floss around the tooth in a C-shape, cleaning below the gum line.
Nutrition: Eating Your Way to Stronger Teeth
Your nutrition plays a key role in the health of your mouth. Foods that contain calcium such as dairy products, dark green vegetables and nuts help to form stronger tooth enamel. Fresh crunchy vegetables and fruits can scrub away plaque while producing a lot of saliva to remove harmful acids. In other words, they can also help produce new dental enamel, which is necessary to minimize future cavities.
Sugary and acidic foods create the perfect environment for cavity-causing bacteria to grow on the surface of teeth. Soft drinks, sports drinks and even fruit juices (which often contain high levels of sugar) can lead to a high level of acid erosion on teeth. If you are planning to consume any of these products, it is best to drink them through a straw to avoid getting some of the acids directly on your teeth. Also be sure to wait a minimum of 30 minutes after consuming the acid before brushing, as brushing immediately after will only spread the acid around your teeth.
Water is an unsung hero in maintaining good oral health. Drinking a sufficient amount of water each day rinses away food particles and bacteria, while keeping the mouth's moisture level stable. If the drinking water has fluoride added,it gives extra protection against cavities every time you drink!
The Professional Partnership
Dentists are always necessary regardless of someone’s daily oral care. Most dental issues are easiest to deal with and less expensive to fix when they are found early, as a dentist will be able to identify dental issues that can only be fixed early on. Cleaning the teeth by a professional removes the hard tartar – no matter who brushes, you will have buildup that is very hard to remove.
A majority of people go to the dentist every six months. Some may need to see a dentist more frequently depending on what's going on with them.The main reason to see the dentist is to clean your teeth, and a dentist will also check for oral cancer, evaluate for gum disease, and provide you with personalized suggestions for your dental health.
Breaking Harmful Habits
A lot of common bad habits will counteract even the best oral health routine. Smoking and the use of tobacco put you at very high risk for gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancer. Teeth grinding, often due to stress, can occur when sleeping or while awake and can wear down the enamel on your teeth and hurt your jaws. A mouth guard can protect your teeth from wearing.
Other bad habits include biting nails, chewing ice, and using teeth to open packages. Each of these bad habits can chip or crack teeth. The first step to breaking a habit is to recognize you are doing it.
Cosmetic Dentistry: When Health Meets Aesthetics
Daily habits are the foundation of Oral Health; however, Cosmetic Dentistry Provides the Bridge Between Functionality and Confidence. With advances in Cosmetic Dentistry, procedures that were once thought to be nothing more than cosmetic are now able to enhance your appearance and improve your health at the same time.
Whitening teeth are still the most sought after Cosmetic Procedure, but with modern treatments, there are safe and effective ways to lift stains due to coffee, wine or aging. Professional options provide dramatic and long-lasting results compared to those available over-the-counter. Veneers, which are basically thin porcelain shells that are formed into place over the front of teeth, can correct chips, spaces or gaps, discoloration, and obscure the alignment of teeth. It typically takes two to three visits to complete the procedure.
Dental Implants, which may represent the biggest advance in Cosmetic Dentistry, are the best way to replace missing teeth. Titanium posts hold prosthetics (the replacement tooth) functioning like natural tooth roots. Unlike Dentures or Bridges, Dental Implants maintain bone density in the jawbone and are a permanent solution that appears and feels just like regular teeth.
Another modern method of Orthodontics is Invisalign® and its counterparts are clear aligner systems that allow you to straighten your teeth without the use of metal brackets. While they do improve the aesthetics of your smile, having properly aligned teeth makes them easier to clean and reduces their wear on your other teeth because of their bite pattern.
The beauty of modern Cosmetic Dentistry is its ability to provide both an enhancement to your smile and often, a correction to health issues that may have been affecting the underlying structures of your teeth. Bonding can fix chips that could allow bacteria an entry point, while Crowns can help protect weak teeth from further damage.
Conclusion: Building Lifelong Habits
The best oral health care plan is the one you will stick with. Start creating the habit of doing something new by attaching it to something you already do, keep your floss by the bathroom mirror or brush your teeth immediately after drinking your coffee in the morning. For the first month, keep track of how you're doing until it all becomes automatic.
If you have children, developing good habits in them will be more effective when you model good behavior rather than lecture them on it. Brush your teeth as a family and allow your children to pick the color and flavor of their toothbrushes in order to create positive associations with the activity.
As we get older, our oral health requirements change also. The types of medicines we take can lead to dry mouth and increase the likelihood of cavities due to decreased saliva levels in the mouth. People with arthritis may find it difficult to use regular toothbrushes as well because of the pain they experience while holding onto it. By regularly adapting your habits to changes in your life, you can continue to maintain good oral health for decades to come.
Your mouth is the gateway to your overall health. The time you take a few minutes each day to properly care for your mouth pays off many times over through the confidence, comfort and overall health that extends beyond just your smile. Whether you are starting to establish new habits or are working to improve upon existing ones, you should keep in mind that every time you brush, floss, and make a healthy decision about your mouth, you are making an investment in yourself that will continue to gain in value.
