5 Simple Ways To Look After Your Oral Health

Many people push their oral health to the very back of their priorities when it comes to health, however, it is absolutely vital as we only have one set of adult teeth and it is so important that we look after them. If you don’t make an effort to look after your teeth, it can cause issues for the rest of your health too, so you must make this a priority. Every change that you make is a positive one, whether you start with something really small or you change your lifestyle altogether to prioritise your oral health. It can seem overwhelming to know where to start, but we are here to break everything down and make everything much more simple. So, let’s get into it and find out how you can look after your oral health! 

See Your Dentist Every 6 Months

The first, and arguably most important, thing you need to do is to see your dentist every 6 months. This is the perfect amount of time so that if an issue does arise that you aren’t able to identify or that you don’t notice, then your dentist should still be able to pick it up with enough time for it to be treated in a relatively simple and cost-effective way. If you leave it any longer between your appointments, things might develop that you can’t pick up on at home, meaning by the time you get to your dentist, you might need much more advanced treatment that will be much more expensive. Aside from the cost, leaving it much more than 6 months gives very serious health problems time to develop, such as gum disease or mouth cancer, which must be treated ASAP. 

Of course, if you notice any concerns between your appointments, then you should always get in touch with your dentist Leamington Spa or London based to have everything checked over. It is so much better to take a preventative approach to your oral health rather than to wait until there is an issue to get is resolved, as you will save yourself a lot of pain, time and money in the long run! 

Use Oral Health Products That Contain Fluoride

Next up, you’ve got to make sure that you’re looking after your teeth between appointments, and one of the best ways you can do this is to use oral health products that contain fluoride. So, when you’re next buying toothpaste and mouthwash, double-check on the back that they contain fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral found in water, which can help to prevent tooth decay by making the enamel more resistant to acids. So, having it in your products is a must. 

Make sure that you’re brushing your teeth with an electric toothbrush twice a day, using mouthwash with fluoride twice a day and then flossing once a day in the evening to remove any build-up of food or sugar. Another tip is to wait 30 minutes after brushing your teeth to eat or drink anything, to give the fluoride a chance to work and to give your teeth the benefit. 

The great thing about this tip is that you won’t have to spend any more than you do currently, as many of the more affordable toothpaste and mouthwashes will contain fluoride, so you won’t need to break the bank to help keep your teeth nice and healthy. 

Drink More Water

Another thing you need to make sure you’re doing is drinking more water. Any drinks other than water can be very damaging to your teeth over time. For example, anything like tea, coffee, alcohol and sugary drinks can cause bacteria to grow in your mouth that eventually leads to tooth and enamel erosion, causing anything from tooth decay to infections and gum disease. 

So, even if you still drink things other than water, try to keep it to a minimum and make sure that you drink plenty of water throughout the day, as this can help to rinse away any of the sugars that are leftover in the mouth. So, cut down as much as you can but make sure you keep drinking throughout the day! 

Eat A Well Balanced Diet

Last but not least, you need to make sure that you are eating a balanced diet. If you have a diet that is very high in sugar, then it is inevitably going to have a negative impact on your teeth. Or, just a poor diet, in general, will, unfortunately, lead to gum disease and tooth decay for many people. Instead, you should focus on eating a diet rich in vitamins, minerals and fresh fruits and vegetables, to give your teeth the protection they need to stay healthy. Also, if you have healthy teeth, you should be eating crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots and celery, as they help to clean plaque from the teeth and also freshen the teeth. 

If you’re not sure where to start, you need to make sure you’re eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, a range of protein, some dairy products and plenty of fluids. 

Quit Smoking

Whilst this isn’t necessarily something that is simple, it is one of the best things you can do for your teeth. Smoking can cause severe gum disease, as bacteria develop on your teeth which can then get under your gums, resulting in plaque and then tartar. Not to mention, smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream, which then means that if gum disease occurs, they are unable to heal. Smoking also causes staining on the teeth because of the nicotine and tar in the tobacco, causing them to discolour in a very short space of time. Overall, smoking is extremely damaging to your teeth, and stopping as soon as possible is so important for your oral health. This is one of the most important changes you can make to help protect your teeth from loss and to save money long term.