Everyone takes care of their physical health and mental health, but what about your oral health? Oral health is as important as your complete health. It is important to keep your teeth and gums healthy. You must visit your dentist regularly to keep a check on your oral health.

Moreover, oral health is not only related to tooth decay or gum problems. The negligence with it may lead to severe issues such as pain, tooth loss, speech-related issues, etc. that eventually lead to low self-esteem. Low self-esteem can make a person’s school, personal, or work-life full of difficult challenges.

These problems can be easily prevented with proper dental and oral care. Your oral care can be started from your home only. Let’s read on to know some of the best practices to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Regular Brushing not Aggressive Brushing

Brushing your teeth is the easiest and most important practice to keep your mouth clean and healthy. It not only removes plaque and bacteria from your mouth but also keeps your mouth clean and fresh. It is a well-known fact that brushing twice a day is a healthy habit to follow for a healthy mouth.

However, there are many people who, in the name of regular brushing, do aggressive brushing. They must understand that brushing aggressively can harm your teeth as well as your gums. Brushing properly twice a day will help you avoid most of your mouth problems.

Brushing in small circular motions at the front, back, and top of every tooth is considered to be the correct technique, instead of aggressively brushing with back and forth motion. Also, you must use a soft-bristled toothbrush that will not damage your teeth and gums and will protect you from any mouth issues.

Flossing Once a Day is Important

Sometimes, there are places in your mouth where the toothbrush doesn’t reach, like in between teeth. Flossing helps reach those areas and remove plaque and bacteria from teeth, which further prevents bad breath. The main cause of bad breath is debris and food stuck in your teeth. Flossing helps in the removal of that food. However, while flossing you must be aware to not hurt your gums and floss lightly.

Visit Dentist Regularly

Visiting your dentist every 6 months is highly recommended by experts worldwide. They thoroughly clean your teeth and remove plaque and hardened tartar. They also check if you are suffering from any other oral issues. If yes, they recommend the correct treatment timely.

The most common issues they check for are any visible cavities, gum diseases, and any other oral health problems. They may even use X-rays for some difficult and hidden cavities.

Though it is recommended to visit the dentist every 6 months, adults who take care of their teeth and complete dental hygiene properly may make it less frequent. Additionally, you can always ask your dentist before a dental checkup. This is because every person has a different health history. The dentist will call as per every patient’s needs and requirements. Above all, if you face any issue with your mouth, you must consult a dentist immediately.

Avoid Smoking

We all are very well aware that smoking is injurious to health. It weakens our immune system to the core, making our body inefficient to heal tissues, including those in our mouth. Many gum diseases are also the result of smoking.

Apart from the above issues, smoking also hampers the appearance of your mouth, including yellowing of your teeth and bad odor from your breath.

You Can Use a Good Mouthwash

Some studies claim that there are certain mouthwashes that can benefit oral health. For instance, it was mentioned in a review that mouthwash that contains chlorhexidine, which is an antibacterial ingredient, helps in controlling plaque and gingivitis.

You must ask your dentist the mouthwash best suitable for you according to your needs. You should not use just any mouthwash. Moreover, people must also understand that mouthwashes are not a substitute for brushing and flossing, but an additional practice.

Limited Foods Rich in Sugar and Starch

It is a world-renowned fact that consuming high sugary foods leads to cavities. Though a limited amount of sugar is needed in your body, more than that only leads to problems. The main offenders in this field are desserts and sweets, but several processed foods are also included.

In addition to processed foods, many starchy foods like bread, chips, pasta, etc. also cause tooth decay. These foods, when staying in your mouth for longer, break into simple sugars. On these sugars, acid-producing bacteria feed on, which causes most of the tooth decay problems. This is why experts recommend fiber-rich vegetables and fruits without any added sugar instead of starchy or processed foods.

Avoid Sugary Drinks or Beverages

A good amount of artificial sugars are found in sweetened beverages. Most of the people in the U.S. sip on soda, juice, etc. as they are drinking water. They don’t understand that these sugary drinks are the major reason for cavities. If you want to keep yourself hydrated, why not drink water rather than any other sweetened beverage? Having these sugary drinks rarely is enough to keep yourself taste-updated.

Fluoride Toothpaste is the Best

When people buy toothpaste, they look for everything but fluoride. They look for whitening qualities, different flavors, cleaning power, striking colors, and many other things. But, what they should be looking for is Fluoride. Fluoride in toothpaste is responsible for keeping your teeth and gums healthy. It is the backbone of your oral health.

It helps in preventing tooth decay at an early stage by fighting the germs that lead to the decaying of teeth. In addition to preventing tooth decay, it also works as a shield for your teeth. Fluoride is the main component to be aware of while selecting your toothpaste. Going for flavors and whitening powers instead of fluoride is an easy way to invite tooth decay.