To achieve an overall good health condition, healthy teeth are important. By taking care of the teeth, tooth decay due to formation of cavities can be prevented. Also plaque which is a film that attaches to the teeth can be avoided by giving a good oral care. The film of plaque is very much sticky so it attracts bacteria and sugar to be accumulated in the teeth. Therefore teeth care prevents the formation of unhealthy gums and cavities which makes the mouth to be sore.
How are teeth affected by poor teeth care?
As mentioned above, poor teeth care invites bacteria and sugary substances into your mouth. The bacteria break down the sugar into acids. These acids produced by the bacteria eats away the enamel of the tooth causing holes in the teeth. This formation of holes is called as cavities. Also plaque causes a disease in gums called gingivitis. As a result of gingivitis, the color of the gums turns red. The gum also becomes sore and swollen. Usually the gums are pink in color and these gums help in holding the teeth at the right place. Thus poor oral care causes an unhealthy gum which affects the teeth.
How does brushing help you to maintain oral health?
Poor oral hygiene invites many oral problems. The simplest possible way of giving oral care is by brushing regularly because regular brushing eliminates many oral problems. Let us see how brushing helps us. Plaque is a film of bacteria that is very much sticky. This plaque is constantly formed inside the mouth. Even though, this bacterium is not potentially dangerous, if it remains in the teeth’s surface for more than a day, it forms colonies and secretes enzymes that are very much harmful to us. Therefore if the plaque is removed, we can maintain our gums and teeth healthy. It is here, the brushing comes into play. Brushing does the role of eliminating the plaque. Regular brushing removes the plague from the surface of the teeth and thereby protecting it from decay.
How to do brushing rightly?
Brushing should be done twice a day. If you brush your teeth excessively it also leads to some negative effects. This is because brushing excessively causes your teeth to erode. This leads to the breakdown of the whole periodontal structure. Also you must brush with a tooth brush that is soft and don’t forget to change the brush often.
To have a good effect of brushing, place the brush at an angle of 45 degrees and start brushing with short strokes directing downwards. This should be done gently. Brush up to ten strokes in each section of teeth for a period of about 4-5 minutes. Also clean up your tongue because the tongue has some bacteria.
During the brushing, if your gums start to bleed then there is a definite problem in your teeth. While brushing, handle the gums gently. This will prevent any damage to gums. To check whether your teeth are clean after brushing, scrape the surface of your teeth with your nail. On scraping, if a white film emerges out then the brushing is not effective. If your tooth is clean then no white film emerges out.
Tips To Keep Your Teeth Healthy
- Brush regularly twice a day one after your breakfast and the other before you sleep. If possible brush your teeth after your lunch or sweet snacks.
- Brush each and every tooth. Some people tend to brush only the front teeth.
- Take minimum of 3 minutes time to brush.
- Always use a soft tooth brush i.e. the tooth brush must have bristles that are soft. Also make sure to change your tooth brush periodically.
- Flossing the teeth is vital to keep the teeth healthy. Because flossing cleans away the food that is present in the places where the tooth brush can’t enter.
- Above all, consulting a dentist at least twice a year is very much important. The dentist will make sure that your teeth are clean and healthy. The dentist will provide suggestions on how to brush and floss your teeth.
Apart from brushing and flossing, the food you eat and drink also has impact on your oral health. Avoid sugary foods as it attracts plaque to your teeth. Consume foods that need sufficient chewing. This is because chewing produces saliva that restores lost calcium due to plaque. Add a lot of proteins, calcium, vitamin B and C in your diet. This provides a good teeth care.