How To Look After Your Teeth And Gums

Our mouth is the entry point for air, food, and water into our body. But the mouth is also a hotspot for pathogens and germs. These pathogens and germs can increase the risk of oral health problems, such as inflammation and bleeding of gums, teeth erosion, cavities, mouth infections, tooth loss, and oral cancer.

Oral hygiene also has a direct connection to overall health and wellness. The mouth can harbor and transport these bacteria and germs everywhere in the body and disturb internal functions. In short, healthy gums and teeth matter more than a beautiful smile and fresh breath. Thus be careful of oral health issues.

The following sections discuss preventive measures and hygiene rituals to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Consider an orthodontic procedure for irregular teeth

An orthodontic procedure may have a cosmetic value for many, but it is an essential treatment for people with uneven teeth. Crooked teeth make eating hard, diminish a person’s smile, and can cause mouth injuries. Uneven teeth can cause chewing difficulties and disturb food digestion. Crooked and uneven teeth also leave enough gaps for food residue after eating, which can promote cavities, tooth decay, and mouth infections. 

Orthodontic procedures help treat and correct these irregularities. With braces and dental aligners, dentists can treat even the most minor imperfections and irregularities without disturbing an entire jawline. But since braces and aligners serve different functions, discuss with your dentist what suits your oral condition. Ask your doctor about any insecurities, such as authenticity and quality of treatment procedures or even braces vs Invisalign cost difference. A detailed discussion is necessary to prevent complications and follow-ups.

Floss and brush at least twice a day

The mouth is a breeding spot for germs and bacteria. These bacteria and germs enter our mouth via breathing or with food. And they use the food we eat for their nourishment, growth, and replication. These germs become pathogenic, change the mouth’s chemistry in their favor, erode teeth, and promote cavities and other oral health issues.

Germs and bacteria also travel through the windpipe and alimentary canal to elsewhere in the body. They can trigger or increase other well-being issues when they become pathogenic.

The simple remedy for these complex chain reactions is proper oral hygiene. Thus floss and brush regularly to kill these germs and bacteria and prevent them from affecting overall health. Practice these rituals whenever you eat and have a flavorful beverage or at least twice during your dining window.

Observe mouth condition regularly

Oral health problems can develop silently without significant symptoms. For instance, cavities do not cause pain or other symptoms in the early stages. We feel pain when cavities damage the outer layers of teeth and reach the soft tissues. Cavities can also cause infections elsewhere in the mouth. It can worsen into periodontal disease, a severe infection of gum and jawline tissues.

But we can avoid such complications when we keep oral health in check. Thus observe your oral health daily. Be wary of unusual changes in the mouth, such as brittle teeth edges, white and dark spots, scars, rashes, and blisters around gums, and consult a healthcare expert timely. 

Attend to early-stage signs of oral health issues

Our teeth are strong enough to withstand our casual negligence. But too much carelessness can lead to unmanageable consequences and jeopardize overall health. Oral health problems and illnesses also exhibit warning signs like other healthcare issues. Tooth sensitivity, teeth aches, bad breath, mouth sores or ulcers, swollen and bleeding gums, or swallowing and chewing difficulties can be early-stage signs of more severe healthcare issues.

Problems arise when we ignore these signs and symptoms or apply self-care remedies. Doctors cannot treat and cure if we are too late. Thus attend to early-stage signs. Consult a dentist whenever you experience these problems. They can give you a heads-up and suggest preventive tips to prevent oral health problems. Schedule routine checkups to ensure good oral health and overall well-being, even if you do not have active complaints.

Eat a vitamin-rich diet

Vitamins are essential nutrients for our body and mind. Vitamins facilitate and promote the functions of every organ and other bodily mechanisms. Different vitamins serve different functions, and our body needs all of them to function well. For instance, vitamin C helps repair and strengthen tissues. It prevents bleeding, sores, inflammation, and infections in the gums and mouth. Vitamin A promotes saliva production, which helps break down, swallow, and digest food, floss teeth, and gums, and regulate mouth acidity. Vitamin B complex is also essential for healthy gums and teeth. It improves defense against mouth infections, inflammation, sores, and tooth decay.

In essence, vitamins have a crucial role in overall health and well-being. Thus eat a nutritious diet to get all essential vitamins. Include vitamin-rich foods in your diet, such as fresh vegetables and fruits. If you’re struggling to regularly eat all the right foods to supply your body with the vitamins it needs, consider using supplements to meet your recommended daily amounts, these can be taken in tablet form or – if you’re someone who doesn’t get on with taking solid tablets, there are also liquid vitamins available.

Use calcium and vitamin D supplements

Calcium and vitamin D are chief nutrients for bones and joints. Both nutrients are essential for stronger bones and teeth. Thus even if you do not have oral health issues, vitamin D and calcium supplements are necessary for stronger bones and teeth.

Calcium plays a role in the structure, whereas vitamin D helps in calcium absorption and deposition. And deficiency of these vitamins can weaken bones and cause brittle teeth, decay, and cavities. Thus doctors recommend 2000 to 2500 mg of calcium and 1000 IU of vitamin D for adults in routine for good bone and teeth health. Soak in the sunlight for 10 to 15 minutes to help the body synthesize vitamin D. If you do not eat calcium-rich foods and dairy products and lack sun exposure, use supplements to get daily doses.

Conclusion

A smile without healthy teeth is incomplete. Healthy teeth are a blessing. Once you lose them, you lose them forever. Artificial implants cannot come parallel to the natural gems you have. Thus practice oral hygiene and do not overlook oral health. Learn and correct oral hygiene practices if you experience foul breath and other oral health issues. Visit a dentist if oral health issues worsen and persist.