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Oral Health: Dos And Don'ts
Our teeth are very important for us for many reasons apart from just helping us chew food.
It is very important to have healthy teeth for having good looks and good general health. The importance of milk or primary teeth is very significant as it aids in the proper development of the permanent teeth and jaw growth.
Most people believe in the myth that milk teeth are not very important but actually they are the foundation for the permanent teeth and form the basis for developing a healthy habit for the future by keeping them clean.
Research today has proved that oral health is linked to general health and has a significant role to play in cardiac health, diabetes, lung health, women's health and pregnancy as well.
Loss of teeth leads to not only nutritional issues and digestive problems but also to jaw joint dysfunction, which can lead to chronic headaches, ear pain, neck pain and shoulder pain.
Oral health is very important so it is essential to take preventive measures like dental sealants and regular check ups and preserve your smile and also your health.
Diet For Oral Health:
Diet plays a very significant role in oral health. Here is a list of foods to consume and to avoid for healthy teeth and overall oral health.
- It's important to consume fresh fruits and vegetables as snacks rather than refined food.
- Avoid sticky food as they have the ability to cause decay and gum disease.
- Avoid snacking between meals.
- Eat your sweet just before you begin your meal as the sweet will get cleansed during the meal and will prevent tooth decay.
- Avoid desserts like cakes and pastries or anything that's sticky after a meal.
Correct Brushing Time And Technique:
Everybody is aware of the need of brushing the teeth and it's become a ritual; however, most people are not aware of the right way to brush and the right way to attain perfect oral hygiene. So here is the correct way to brush your teeth:
Brush Twice A Day:
Brush twice a day, and the recommendation is to brush after breakfast and the second time after dinner. If there is any discomfort of bad breath when we wake up, it can be overcome easily by using a tongue cleaner to clean the tongue; and if needed, use your finger to scrub your teeth and massage your gums.
Brush In A Circular Motion:
Always brush in a circular motion to reach the outer areas of your mouth.
Retract Your Lower Lip When You Brush:
Make sure that you retract your lower lip and create access for your toothbrush to clean the lower front teeth properly.
Avoid Brushing More Than Twice A Day:
Brushing more than twice a day can lead to wearing away of the enamel and cause sensitive teeth.
Never Use Force While Brushing:
Brushing is synonymous with being gentle. Never use a lot of force when you brush. If the bristles of your brushes are getting flared, it means you are using a lot of force to brush your teeth, which may result in damaging of your teeth and gums.
Discard Toothbrush Once In Every 2-3 Months:
Make
sure
that
your
toothbrush
is
discarded
every
2-3
months.
Time
For
Brushing
-
The
maximum
time
spent
for
brushing
should
be
2-3
minutes.
Is Flossing Good Or Bad?
Flossing is a double-edged sword. It's important to floss but the right technique is very important and more than that is the ability to access the surface between two teeth without hurting the gums.
How To Choose The Correct Toothpaste:
With the market flooded with several brands of toothpastes, people are often confused as to which toothpaste is good.
But as a matter of fact any toothpaste is fine as long as you use a small pea size amount. The brushing technique is more important than the type of toothpaste.
Common Tooth Problems:
Tooth Decay:
Almost 90% of human beings suffer from tooth decay and this can be very easily prevented by the use of dental sealants and fluoride application.
Gum Disease:
Gum
disease
is
one
of
the
leading
causes
of
tooth
loss
and
now
research
shows
that
there
is
a
huge
link
between
gum
disease
and
general
health.
Links
have
been
established
on
the
role
of
gum
health
affecting
the
heart,
lungs,
brain,
pregnancy
and
causing
preterm
birth
and
also
affecting
many
other
vital
systems
in
the
body.
Irregular Teeth:
This
condition
can
be
handled
with
ease
by
early
intervention.
Irregular
teeth
can
lead
to
inability
to
brush
well
causing
tooth
decay
and
gum
disease.
Dental Trauma:
95%
of
children
and
adults
who
have
proclined
teeth
are
prone
to
dental
trauma
resulting
in
chipping
of
teeth
or
complete
loss
of
the
tooth.
The
first
half
an
hour
is
critical
after
the
dental
trauma.
So
it
is
important
to
reach
your
nearby
dentist
as
soon
as
possible.
When To See A Dentist?
It's important to see a dentist every six months to do a preventive exam and also a clean up if required. Professionally applied fluoride has benefits to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
Please get your child's oral cavity examined before the first teeth erupts in the mouth.
The writer is Dr Srivats Bharadwaj, Specialist Dentist, Founder Chairman & CEO, Vatsalya Centre for Oral Health, Bengaluru.
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