John KIRAGU
- Aug 3, 2022
- 5 min read

Daily habits to improve your oral health

Good dental hygiene is essential in preventing gum diseases, minimizing tooth decay and bad breath, and strengthening your teeth as you age. Oral health can affect your emotional and physical well-being as it affects your interpersonal relations, appearance, nutrition, and speech. Even though your tooth looks nice, it is important to take the right oral care products and be mindful of your daily habits. When your mouth is infected, it becomes a contributing factor to numerous secondary conditions in your body. For instance, inflammation of the heart valve by bacterial endocarditis, digestion problems which may result in irritable bowel syndrome, internal failure, and other related digestive disorders. Your oral health reflects overall body wellness. You can attain good health and healthy oral practices by incorporating the following habits into your daily routine:

Drink water

Water plays an important role in keeping your mouth clean by rinsing away residues and leftovers in your teeth which nourish cavity-causing bacteria. It also dilutes the acid which is produced by the bacteria in your mouth and fights against dry mouth. When you have a low saliva supply, dry mouth encourages high risks for tooth decay.

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Sweetened drinks may contain high amounts of calories and sugar which is a storm to cavity risks and unhealthy consequences. Water washes away the cavity-causing bacteria which feeds on sugary and produces acid that destroys enamel, shell of the tooth. Intake of water containing fluoride (natural cavity fighter) prevents tooth decay by making the enamel more resistive to the acid action and strengthening your teeth. It also facilitates the other strong minerals into your enamel and repairs the enamel by restoring the lost phosphorus and calcium to make your teeth healthy and hard. Incorporating plenty of daily water intake has a great impact on maintaining and improving your teeth.

Quit smoking

The habit of smoking has become popular among people globally. It is strongly associated with numerous gum diseases. Smoking weakens your immune system, making it harder to fight off infections and compromises your gum's recovery time once it’s damaged. It comes along with various oral health effects including mouth cancer, decay on the roots of your tooth, complications from oral surgeries, and tooth removal. By avoiding the habit of smoking, you can improve your gum health by minimizing the risk of periodontal diseases and facilitating immune response to harmful bacteria in your mouth which improves your overall dental health.

Eat crunchy vegetables

Consuming veggies and fruits have an important effect on making your mouth healthy and aids in a strong jaw. Modern diets not only focus on soft foods, but individuals are less likely to consume fresh and unprocessed vegetables and fruits which becomes a common problem. Unprocessed vegetables and fruits improve not only your oral health but also your overall body wellness. The vital nutrients and vitamins are beneficial to your health and the pressure of chewing keeps your jaw and oral muscles strong. You can strengthen your mouth by chewing cut-up pieces of vegetables like carrots and broccoli.

Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash

Carrot is a great cavity-fighting veggie containing keratins, calcium, and vitamin C which improve dental health. It also helps to clean your tooth just like a natural toothbrush. Crunchy food contains sufficient amounts of water - a vital natural tooth cleaner as it is essential in stimulating the flow of saliva, which helps to scrub away bacteria and food particles. Other vegetables like leafy greens are rich in valuable minerals and vitamins such as folic acid and calcium that enhance strong teeth and healthy gums. Improving your dental health means intake of a healthy and friendly diet with sufficient amounts of fluoridated water.

Flossing

Flossing is a vital way of maintaining and improving oral care. It eliminates foods and residues left between your teeth. It has essential benefits for your oral wellness such as minimizing the likelihood of puffiness, stimulation of the gum, reduced soreness, and unpleasant redness in your gums. Plaque cavities build up between your teeth and can occur due to food remains between your teeth. Flossing prevents gingivitis by removing germs that may result in inflammation around the tissues of your gum. You should floss at least once every day, especially before bedding. There are different types of flossing including:

Air flosser - it uses air pressure to remove the debris between your teeth

Super floss - super floss is advantageous to those with wide gaps, orthodontic braces, and bridges between teeth

Un-waxed and waxed thread (the most common type of floss used)

Water floss - this method of flossing uses water to flush away debris between teeth

Floss picks - this type of floss is conveniently used while traveling or flossing on the go

Flossing is more tedious than brushing. However, regular flossing and brushing are important components in your daily routine that yield healthy dental health.

Use a fluoride toothpaste

Toothpaste plays a pivotal role in good oral hygiene. Consider products that contain fluoride in their formula rather than finding one with a pleasant smell and flavor. Fluoride toothpaste is responsible for minimizing the risks of dental caries. It reduces the severity and prevalence of dental caries by delaying its onset. It is essential in the treatment of non-cavitated enamel carious lesions and the prevention of cavitated caries lesions such as root caries lesions. It fights bacteria and germs in your mouth and forms a protective layer making your teeth strong and preventing cavities. Its safety and cost-effectiveness reinforce the importance of its use and mechanical plaque removal in the fight against dental caries. Despite all the recommendations, dental caries problems are still a public health concern and the use of fluoride toothpaste should be encouraged to minimize and eradicate the disease worldwide. Maintaining and improving your pearly white teeth, avoiding cavities, and other dental health concerns are a result of the daily habits that you practice.

Brush properly

You should brush your tooth for about 2 minutes each day with a soft-bristled brush to avoid damaging gum or your dental enamel. Brushing is a simple habit that many people break. Individuals do not spend enough time brushing their teeth which results in the accumulation of food particles and plague. These food particles and plague are the primary causes of gum diseases and tooth decay which leads to dental cavities. Brushing also eliminates bad breath that may potentially discourage interactions with friends, family, and colleagues creating a deeper interpersonal relationship issue.

Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash

It is important to change your toothbrush at least every 3-4 months to maintain your oral hygiene. As the bristle become worn, it is prone to fungal and bacteria development which aid in dental problems, bad breath, and halitosis. Brushing your teeth more often comes with health benefits such as limiting the chances of getting dementia, reducing chances of heart problems, and minimizing the risk of diabetes. Gum disease makes it harder to control blood glucose which contributes to the progression of diabetes. Brushing your teeth properly is a chore that many people bind on regular basis. Regular brushing is an essential daily routine for everyone that reaps numerous oral benefits now and in the future. Consider regular dental checkups too. Without proper oral hygiene, dental problems may lead to severe pain, tooth loss, and problems associated with malnutrition along with other challenges in your personal life.