Severe gum disease causes 1 in 3 adults to lose teeth, and tooth decay is the most common global disease affecting families. There are a number of ways to prevent these problems, keep your gums looking great, and your teeth strong, shiny and bright. A professional Glendale CA Preventative Dentist will be able to elaborate on these, but let us look at the main ways we can keep teeth healthy.
Brush teeth to clean out plaque and prevent tartar
The first and most obvious step we can perform is to ensure we continue to perform adequate tooth brushing. This has become such a common day-to-day activity that we can sometimes forget how important it is.
The main reason to brush our teeth at least three times a day is that it helps to remove plaque. Plaque is a sticky yellow film that can form on teeth and gums that contains bacteria that attacks teeth and gums, Left unabated it can form into harder tartar, which accelerates the attack on gums and teeth.
To combat this, brush your teeth at least twice a day with a firm but pliable brush, taking care to clean all of the teeth and gums gently and thoroughly.
Floss to prevent cavities between teeth
Flossing allows us to remove plaque and decaying food from between teeth where it is difficult for a toothbrush to reach. Flossing is advised to be performed at least once a day, ideally before bedtime, and this helps to prevent gum disease, receding gums and cavities in the gaps between teeth.
When flossing, ensure you use enough floss for easy use and perform an 'up and down' motion between each teeth. Be careful to curve the floss around teeth rather than moving the floss up and down against the gums, which are much more sensitive.
Tongue and Gum Cleaning
Sometimes overlooked in an oral hygiene routine, remember the dorsal area of the tongue will commonly retain a film of bacteria, fungi and decaying food. This contributes to bad breath, and cleaning the tongue removes some bacteria species that contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. It is also suggested to massage the gums daily when brushing your teeth and flossing.
Healthy Eating
We commonly hear about all of the foods we should try and avoid for dental health. The most common cause of cavities is sugar. The most important factor to realize here is that it is not that one needs to avoid very sweet food, but rather one needs to give teeth time to remineralize after consumption. Therefore we should try and reduce the number of times we are eating and drinking sugary foods and drinks. Another important point is the stickiness of the food; sticky and sweet food will remain on the teeth for longer, causing more damage.
There are also foods which may aid in oral hygiene. According to World Dental, green tea can help reduce plaque due to its polyphenal antioxidant. Milk and yogurt, high in calcium and low in decay-inducing sugar, are other helpful drinks. Fruits, while they contain natural sugar, are high in Vitamin C which is a requirement for strong teeth and gums. Finally, vegetables such as pumpkins, carrots and broccoli are high in vitamin A, which is used to form the strong enamel that coats our teeth.
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