Since October is National Dental Hygiene Month, there’s no better time to learn about how you can spruce up your morning and nightly routine. With new dental discoveries and advancements being made daily, it’s always a good idea to consider whether there are more efficient or new ways to keep your mouth sparkling. Read on to find out how the most common oral health problems develop and what you can do to stop them.
How Do Common Oral Health Problems Form?
In order to know how to fight common oral health problems like cavities and gum disease, you’ll need to know how they develop. When you eat, the food particles mix with your saliva and form a soft film that covers your teeth called plaque. It has all the substances that harmful oral bacteria like to feed off of, such as sugar and carbohydrates (which eventually turn into sugar in your mouth). When plaque isn’t regularly removed from your mouth, it provides the perfect environment for harmful bacteria to accumulate and thrive in.
As these bacteria build up, they eat the sugar and begin releasing waste like acid and toxins. The acid causes enamel erosion, which eventually leaves the fragile inner-portion of your teeth unprotected against decay. The toxins that oral bacteria release are known to cause the early symptoms of gum disease (inflammation, irritation, and swelling). Now that you know the how the most common oral health problems form, you know the root cause starts with bacteria’s favorite food, sugar. With the proper oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing every day, you can ward any lingering issues off. Here are a couple of additional tips to help clear your mouth of plaque and bacteria.
Rinse With Antibacterial Mouthwash
After you’ve brushed and flossed, or just as a lunchtime refresher, you can rinse your mouth using an antibacterial mouthwash. This is also a great way to reach those hard-to-get-to spaces that are too deep in your mouth to get to with a regular toothbrush.
Maintain a Nutritious Diet
Many people don’t know that eating a nutritious diet can benefit your oral health immensely. Many processed foods contain excessive amounts of carbs and sugars, which we know feeds bacteria. Instead, try eating more fibrous vegetables and white dairy. The dairy helps strengthen your enamel and the fibrous vegetables, like celery and carrots, help brush away lingering plaque.
Brush Your Teeth After Each Meal
The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day. The best time to do this is about 30 minutes after each meal (yes, that means three times each day). This will drastically reduce the amount of plaque and tartar that coats your teeth.
Now that you know how oral health problems like cavities and gum disease develop, it’ll be easier for you to stop them in their tracks. With these three at-home oral health tips along with routine brushing, flossing, and visits to your dentist, you’ll be able to enjoy a bright and healthy-looking smile for decades to come!
About the Author
Dr. Christine Coughlin deeply cares about each of her patients, which is why she focuses on providing them with thorough, high-quality preventive care that ensures their overall wellbeing. She looks forward to building trusting relationships with her patients and giving them the tools and knowledge they need to maintain beautiful and healthy smiles for the rest of their lives. Because she never wants her patients to go without getting the dental treatments they need, she offers evening and Saturday appointments for their convenience! For questions or to schedule a routine checkup and cleaning, visit Oakbrook Dental & Orthodontics’ website or call 469-526-4040.