Did you know over 40% of children worldwide develop dental cavities by the time they reach kindergarten? Besides preventing cavities and gum diseases, good oral hygiene can save you dental costs, allow your children to perform better in school, and enhance concentration at work. Read on to find out some important tips for better oral health.
Start Early
Dental cavities are recently on the rise. For instance, research undertaken in 19 countries reveals that nearly every one in five people uses dentures. Consequently, people are losing their teeth and seeking better replacements for their teeth.
You can spare your children dental challenges if you take care of their oral hygiene at a young age. As soon as your child's first tooth appears, enroll the child in effective dental care. Use a clean piece of cloth to wipe your baby's teeth.
Alternatively, you can brush your baby's teeth with a subtle brush. Train your child to brush their teeth by the age of two years. Ensure you supervise them as they brush. This way, you can be sure they are doing it right without hurting themselves.
Regularly Brush and Floss Your Teeth
Before you go to sleep, brush your teeth to remove any food particles that could be in your gums or between your teeth. Food particles in your teeth can provide a suitable environment for dental cavity-causing bacteria. Use enough toothpaste any time you brush your teeth.
Fluoride is the main ingredient in healthy kinds of toothpaste. It helps strengthen your enamel. For children, use very little fluoride. Too much fluoride can spot your children's teeth. Brush your teeth in the morning after breakfast and floss them after every meal if you can't access a toothbrush. Replace your toothbrush quarterly to prevent re-introducing bacteria into your mouth.
Schedule Biannual Dental Appointments
The dentist can detect any looming trouble in your mouth and fix it early. For instance, dentists can seal your child's teeth to reduce dental caries. Your dentist can extract your tooth before it infects the rest. The dentist can also remove any buildup of plaque in your mouth. If it is left unattended, this buildup can cause tooth decay.
Your dentist can advise your family on which foods to avoid based on the status of your teeth. The dentist can tell that you are developing bruxism and recommend mouth guards. Furthermore, during dental checkups, the dentist can discover any initial symptoms of oral cancer. Professionals can treat oral cancer at its early stages.
However, if you haven’t found a dentist, you can seek referrals from family and friends or check some prospects online. Once you have a list of potential dentists, conduct a background check by knowing their experience and expertise. Don’t forget to ask about their rates and if they have the right dental tools and equipment. To know more about them, you can also check their websites and read some client reviews online. That way, you’ll see whether you have chosen the right dental professional for your family’s dental needs.
Brush Your Tongue
Brushing your tongue on a regular basis is just as vital as brushing your teeth. This little tip should not be overlooked, as the tongue draws bacteria into your mouth. Request that everyone in your household brush their tongues. If possible, supervise your children as they do the brushing every day to ensure the tongue isn’t missed out. In doing so, you can prevent bacteria from causing dental issues.
Eating Healthy
Brushing and flossing are crucial, but what you put in your mouth contributes to your oral health, so provide your family with healthy food that can greatly improve oral health. Sugary food and carbohydrates enable disease-causing bacteria to build up. To boost your dental health, consume more of these nutrients: Calcium, Vitamin D, potassium, Phosphorus, and Vitamins K, C, and A.
Your oral hygiene is a critical component of your overall health. Oral health is closely associated with several medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other related diseases. Because of this, many health institutions and nonprofit organizations like CareQuest Institute are working hard to integrate medical and dental efforts. This collaborative effort intends to educate patients and their families about the essential connection between oral health and overall health to develop healthy behaviors and essential prevention strategies.
With these things said, keeping one’s mouth healthy doesn’t have to be challenging for families. Almost 44% of all Americans regret not having taken good care of their oral health early enough. Moreover, many medical-dental integration practices are in place to help people ensure their oral health and overall well-being. With healthy teeth and gums, you can smile with confidence.
Unfortunately, failing to brush twice a day and failing to remove any food particles from your teeth can encourage bacterial activities. However, you can avoid dental problems if you train your children to take care of their oral health early enough. With these simple tips, you can better take care of your family's oral health. In turn, you’ll live a happier and healthier life for a long time.
