However there are a few simple steps we can all take to protect and boost our oral health, but what exactly are they?
Protecting your pearly whites
NHS Choices provide a number of oral health tips, they recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes, using a good quality fluoride toothpaste containing at least 1,350 parts per million of the ingredient. This should be done first thing in the morning and last thing at night: it will limit the formation of plaque, the film of bacteria that covers your teeth and contributes to other—avoidable—conditions such as gum disease and tooth decay. Whether you use an electric toothbrush or a conventional one is up to you, but both are good choices as long as you make sure to clean all surfaces with care. After brushing, spit out excess toothpaste but don’t rinse your mouth with water as this will wash away the fluoride. A great fluoride mouthwash will help prevent tooth decay, but it’s important to never use the product straight after brushing your teeth and only eat and drink 30 minutes after use.
See also: Get Rid of Gum Disease
The truth about flossing
A common misconception about flossing is that it should be done after brushing your teeth—you need to do it beforehand. Regular flossing can reduce your risk of developing gum disease or chronic bad breath by getting rid of food remnants and plaque between your teeth. NHS Choices recommends flossing with eight to 10 strokes between each tooth with a piece of dental tape about 12-18 inches long, slipping the floss between teeth and gums as far as it will go.
Routine check-ups
The need for dental check-ups will largely differ from person to person—some may require a visit every six months, while others may need to visit their dentist more frequently (the average time between check-ups varies from three months to two years). At each check-up you can expect your dentist to examine your teeth, gums and overall mouth health, give advice on teeth-cleaning habits and discuss your diet, smoking and alcohol consumption. Leaving problems—like a sore tooth—untreated can make them more difficult to resolve.
Top tips for teeth
Reducing sugar in your diet not only lowers your risk of tooth decay, it also lowers your risk of developing serious life-changing conditions like diabetes. It is therefore recommended to eat very small amounts of foods high in sugar and fat. It’s also advisable to limit intake of fizzy drinks, milky drinks with added sugar, fruit juice, pastries, ice cream and dried fruit. Simple lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and cutting down on alcohol can also dramatically improve your oral health: smoking stains teeth yellow, causes bad breath and increases your risk of gum disease while alcohol erodes the enamel. According to NHS Choices, people who smoke and drink heavily have a 38 percent increased risk of developing mouth cancer.
See also: How to Get a Hollywood Smile
Teeth whitening
Professional teeth whitening is a great option for people who want their teeth to appear a bit lighter. If you choose to undergo the treatment, you’ll need to make a few visits to your dentist to prepare—they’ll make an impression of your teeth to create a mouth guard and will teach you how to use it in conjunction with a bleaching gel, which you can use from the comfort of your home. Another type of teeth whitening—laser whitening—consists of a bleaching product being painted on your teeth and later activated with a laser. This treatment lasts about an hour. The main culprits for stained and yellow tea are cigarettes, tea, alcohol and wine—keep the consumption of these to a minimum to keep your teeth from losing their white shine.
If you have enjoyed this article on oral health, click here to read more on Celebrity Angels about professional teeth whitening and general oral healthcare.
