Expert Tips on Checking the Health of Your Teeth and Gums

There can be no good health without oral health and hygiene. Taking care of your teeth and gums is just as important as eating healthy and having enough sleep. Besides, having good oral health can mean the difference between smiling with confidence and wanting to hide your teeth.

Many people neglect their teeth and gums every day without realising that without good oral health, it is impossible to lead a healthy life. Keep reading to find out eight tips on checking the health of your teeth and gums.

Remember to brush your teeth and floss.

Your first step in an oral health regime should be to establish healthy hygiene habits that minimize the risk of getting oral diseases. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and use dental floss often.

Having good hygiene is perhaps the most basic and essential point without which everything else makes no sense. Brushing and flossing after each meal are advisable to prevent bacteria from accumulating around them.

Use an electric toothbrush.

Without delving into specific cases, electric brushes provide the best cleaning action, effectively eliminating excess food and micro-organisms with their rotating movement. If this resource is not available, purchase a regular brush with a small head, a straight handle and soft rounded, bristles.

When your toothbrush is too hard and the movements abrupt and inadequate, you can damage your gums and even cause cavities.

Be aware of any changes around your gums.

For a healthy and radiant smile, having healthy gums is essential. To know if your gums are in perfect condition, you must look at specific signals such as colour, shape, and other small clues that can help you identify or discard a periodontal disease.

Healthy gums are a light pink or pale shade, which shows that the blood supply is good. However, the hue of the gum may vary according to the skin pigmentation of each individual. Healthy gums will have a thin appearance and a texture similar to that of an orange peel. Additionally, healthy gums will completely cover the roots of the teeth, serving as a protective barrier and protecting them from sensitivity.

Avoid smoking

It is no surprise that tobacco is harmful to the health of your teeth and gums. Smoking can cause bad breath and stain your teeth. Additionally, nicotine can reduce blood flow to your mouth and attack the defences present in gums.

Therefore, smokers are more likely to suffer from periodontal diseases. Besides, tobacco inhibits the signs of periodontitis or gingivitis. Thus, smoking complicates the diagnosis of these diseases and makes treatment more difficult because of it.

Use an adequate mouthwash

There are many types of excellent quality mouthwash. However, some have alcohol, which can irritate because people use it for longer than the instructions advise or mix it with other substances.

It is essential to find a product that you like, and one that includes antibacterial agent (such as chlorhexidine). As always, you should consult your dentist about what you can do. The most natural mouthwash is made by mixing pure water and a few drops of lemon or mint and rinsing your mouth entirely.

Take care of your diet.

A balanced diet helps to maintain good oral health. Certain foods can help keep your teeth and gums in good condition, such as apple or cucumber (which help clean the tooth’s surface) – or milk and its derivatives because of its high calcium content.

On the contrary, consuming foods too high in sugars, as well as too many acidic beverages, can damage the enamel and increase the appearance of cavities. Besides, certain foods can stain your teeth’s enamel, such as coffee, red wine or tea.

If you are anxious, chew gum. Chewing gum can help you. If you eat out and cannot clean your teeth, use sugar-free gum, primarily if it uses xylitol as a sweetening agent (it has a specific bactericidal action). Stimulating salivary secretion leaves your teeth in contact with the best anti-cavities agent that exists: your saliva.

Go to the dentist every time you need it.

The opinion of a specialist is vital to ensure that we keep your mouth in good health. There are dentists at Swansea waiting to help you. Go to the dentist at least once a year to evaluate the condition of your teeth and gums.

In the case of children, dentists recommend the first visit once the child has reached the age of one and then every 6 months after that.

Looking after your teeth is a long term investment and can be done fairly simply with an everyday oral hygiene routine.

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