Oral Care That Can Reduce Health Risks

Oral health or mouth care is an important aspect of every person’s life. Keeping teeth and gums healthy reduces the risk of mouth diseases like tooth decay, cavities, etc.

Damage to the tooth structure, the Enamel (outer coating of the tooth), and the Dentin layer is called Tooth Decay. It can be prevented by keeping the mouth clean. This requires that the mouth is cleaned properly after every meal to get rid of food particles. The proper combination of brushing, flossing, and rinsing can help maintain oral health.

There are different ways to maintain oral health, but the most important of all is to pay attention to what we eat. Excessive sugar consumption can lead to tooth decay and cavities. This is because sugars are an excellent growing space for microorganisms like bacteria.

Regular brushing also keeps teeth and gums healthy. Brushing at least twice a day will eliminate all the food particles stuck in the food. If food particles are present in the mouth bacteria form a layer over the teeth, called plaque. During the decay of the food particles, acids are produced that cause erosion of the tooth, causing cavities. Brushing in the night would remove any food particles collected in the mouth and brushing in the morning removes the plaque that may have formed. Regular brushing also stimulates the gums, which are essential muscles, making them stronger and healthier.

Flossing helps remove food particles and plaque stuck in between in areas where the brush wouldn’t reach. The plaque stuck for a long time becomes hard and is called Tartar. This can only be cleaned during the visit to a dentist. The tartar leaves gaps in between the teeth due to the erosion of teeth by bacteria. Flossing once a day helps remove plaque; thus avoid tartar formation.

Mouth rinse washes off the food particles that are left in the mouth, leaving the mouth clean and fresh. Along with all these practices, it is also important to visit the dentist regularly. A dental check-up would help identify the overall oral health. A dentist would be able to have a thorough look at the mouth and see if there are parts that need additional cleaning or care.

If oral health is not maintained, a yellow tone may form over the teeth. It does not necessarily mean that the teeth or gums are unhealthy. This can be treated by the use of teeth whitening products like strips, toothpaste that is available in the stores.

Orthodontics is a specialized area of dentistry that deals with tooth irregularity or disproportionate joints. These can be rectified with the help of braces wires etc. People who have braces need to be extra careful about their oral health. Food particles easily settle on the braces, wires, and on the teeth, attracting plaque. Dentists recommend that brushing after every snack or food intake helps remove food that might have settled in the braces. Also avoiding sticky or hard food that has a higher tendency to get stuck around the braces would help.