We've all been brought up to brush our teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly and perhaps even use a mouthwash, however the key to a healthy beautiful smile is getting the basics right: practising the best oral hygiene regimen which protects your teeth against both cavities and gum disease. These diseases shorten the life span of our teeth and gums.
Basic Mouth Regimen
- Brushing twice daily and at least for two minutes each time reduces plaque (causative factor of gum disease and cavities).
- Medium sized toothbrush which should be change every 3 months depending on the shape and texture of the bristles.
- Brush do not scrub.
- Parents to monitor children's brushing and technique till 8-10 years of age.
- Flossing regularly after meals, preferable to tooth picking.
- Visit your dentist twice a year.
Fluoride is a chemical component in the body that helps in the development and strength of the teeth and also protect the teeth from tooth decay. When children eat or drink fluoride in small doses, in foods such as cereal, beverages, potatoes e.t.c. it enters the bloodstream and becomes part of their developing permanent teeth. This makes it hard for acids; which form from food breakdown in mouth, to cause demineralization of the teeth. In addition, fluoride works directly on teeth in the mouths of children and adults by spending remineralization and disrupting the production of acids by bacteria. Fluoride is also obtained in two main ways: through the water we drink and toothpastes.
By far the biggest threat to healthy teeth is gum disease. The risk of gum problems increases with age, and more teeth are lost through gum disease than through tooth decay. It is esteemed that 9 out of 10 people start to show signs of gum disease by the time they are 25years old. It creates the formation of pockets at the gum line where bacteria can grow and live. Left untreated, bacterial infections can cause inflammation that damages connectives tissue and even bone supporting the teeth, thus leading to tooth loss.
What to do:
-Brush and floss regularly to remove bacteria.
-For added protection, use an antibacterial mouthwash (not daily).
-Go to your dentist for regular checkup every six months. This is particularly important for detecting gum disease that can serve as early warning signs, like painless bleeding gums, redness of the gums near the teeth and possible mouth odour.
Since gum disease is an inflammatory process, eating foods that suppress inflammation may help. Growing evidence suggests that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (good source of omega-3 fatty acids include fish, fish oil, and flaxseed) can help dampen inflammation if taken regularly.
MOUTH ODOUR
Mouth odour is another cause of worry in adults. Apart from fasting, certain foods and drinks can cause bad breath. They include protein rich foods, alcoholic beverages, acidic food, garlic, onions, cookies, candy, coffee and tea, throat. Other conditions that can influence our breath are poor oral hygiene, gum disease, sinus infections, and illnesses like diabetes, liver diseases, kidney diseases, and stomach reflux.
Six(6) simple steps to sweet breath
- Use over-the-counter mouthwashes (not every day)
- Use an antibacterial toothpaste
-Eat sensibly
-Drink plenty of liquids especially water
-Reduce stress levels
-Chew sugar-free gum and/or use sugar-free mints
