DENTAL
Most people consider oral health habits a topic for young children. However, maintaining oral hygiene is equally essential in adulthood. It takes a lifetime of care to achieve and maintain healthy teeth. As adulthood comes with many responsibilities, most people are negligent towards their oral health. Poor oral hygiene can cause you to experience many dental problems, such as cavities, stained teeth, tooth sensitivity, tooth decay, gum disease, and more. Through proper oral care, it is possible to prevent the risk of these problems.
From personal habits to geographic location, many factors influence dental health. For example, people living in Springfield, Ohio, may experience unique dental health challenges due to regional lifestyle factors. Ohio’s traditional diet is rich in sugars and starches, which can contribute to tooth decay if adequate dental hygiene practices are not practiced. Now, let’s uncover some effective ways to maintain healthy teeth as an adult.
Ensure Regular Dental Visits
One of the best ways to maintain oral health is to visit your dentist regularly. Healthline recommends to visit a dentist at least twice a year for optimal dental health. Regular dental checkups can help keep track of your oral health and detect certain dental conditions at an early stage. Research suggests that about 23% of adults (aged 65 years and older) in Ohio have not visited a dentist in the past year. These statistics are concerning because regular dental visits are crucial for early diagnosis and treatment of dental issues.
In addition, if you have crowded, overlapping, and gapped teeth or are dissatisfied with your smile, you can consider getting adult braces. If you are looking for a trusted place to get adult braces in Springfield, OH, you can rely on Dhingra Orthodontics.
Adult braces will enhance your appearance, reduce the risk of traumatic oral injuries, improve speech enunciation, etc. Investing in your orthodontic health is always smart, as you will enjoy a confident and dazzling smile after the treatment.
Brush Your Teeth Properly
You must be aware that it is a general recommendation to never go to bed without brushing your teeth. Brushing before bed removes the germs and plaque accumulated throughout the day. It is best to brush after every meal, but if that is not feasible, you must brush your teeth twice daily. Your mouth could be a gateway to many serious health complications besides toothache and cavities.
The major side effects of not brushing your teeth include gum disease, tooth loss, halitosis, mouth or stomach ulcers, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and much more. Additionally, the way you brush your teeth is of equal significance. Not properly brushing your teeth is equivalent to not brushing at all. Most people do not brush their teeth properly, resulting in many dental complications. It can stem from using the wrong brushing technique, using the wrong toothpaste, or not brushing for a long time.
Here’s how to brush your teeth properly: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Be gentle and use circular patterns to clean your teeth. It will help remove bacteria and plaque from the surfaces of teeth, minimizing the risk of gum disease, cavities, and even tooth loss. Remember to brush your teeth for as long as 2 minutes. If it seems like a long time, you can set a timer or play music to keep track of time.
Do Not Skip Flossing
Flossing is a critical part of oral care, as it helps remove the little pieces of food from the inner spaces between teeth that your toothbrush cannot reach. Not just that, it is also helpful in reducing inflammation and limiting plaque buildup. Another amazing benefit of flossing is that it helps keep the bad breath away. Even then, many people skip flossing in their daily oral care routines. Statistics suggest that over 32% of Americans do not floss at all.
However, it is important to include flossing in your daily oral care if you want to maintain healthy teeth. It is best to floss your teeth before brushing. This way, the extra food particles or stuck-on plaque between teeth and along the gum line can be easily removed. Being reckless while flossing can potentially damage your gums and teeth.
Use a Fluoride Toothpaste
Numerous kinds of toothpaste are available in the market, all with unique ingredients. It can be challenging to pick one from such a wide range of toothpastes. However, there is one ingredient that should always be present in your toothpaste, and that is fluoride. So, when you go to the market to buy a toothpaste, be sure to pick one that contains fluoride.
Tooth enamel experiences a continuous exchange of minerals, with acids being the culprits in the daily battle. These acids, which originate from plaque, bacteria, and sugar in your mouth, launch an attack on your enamel, leading to a process known as demineralization. Conversely, remineralization occurs when your enamel absorbs essential minerals like fluoride and calcium from the food and water you consume. An imbalance between demineralization and remineralization can pave the way for tooth decay. This is precisely why the use of fluoride toothpaste is encouraged for adults.
Dental fluoride makes the enamel more resistant to acid attacks and prevents tooth decay. Using fluoride toothpaste also prevents the growth of harmful and cavity-causing bacteria. It can also reverse the early signs of tooth decay. Therefore, using fluoride toothpaste instead of an ordinary one is the best decision you will ever make for your dental health.
Final Word
Maintaining good oral health is important not only for children but also for adults. You can keep your teeth for a lifetime by ensuring proper oral care. Good oral hygiene is vital to a person’s oral health and overall health and well-being. Poor oral hygiene has been linked with an increased risk of adverse health conditions. Therefore, it is obvious that having good oral health will significantly improve your quality of life. You may need to put extra effort into caring for your teeth, but it will be worth it.
