Tips For Keeping Your Teeth And Gums Healthy

By Author: Andy Gritti
Total Articles: 4
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Beyond toothpaste and brushing, dental flosses and mouth washes are two very important dentist recommended products for oral hygiene. Apart from regular teeth brushing, you also need to minimize consumption of sugary food and drinks. You also need to make sure that the dental products you use are of high quality.

There are many simple ways to keep your gums and teeth healthy and clean. Most of them are routine practices that you should adhere to while others may include use of dental hygiene products such as toothpaste, mouth wash and flossing. Lack of dental hygiene may result in dental diseases, bad breath or even tooth and gum pains. The best method for maintaining a clean and healthy mouth is through routine brushing and rinsing. Traditionally, dental professionals recommend that you brush your teeth twice a day, but it is always best to brush after every meal when possible. If you can’t brush then rinse with water vigorously or mouth wash if available. Refraining from using tobacco and sugary foods are additional practices that can protect your teeth and gums from decay.

One method of maintaining your dental ...
... hygiene is by regular dental flossing. This involves the removal of small food particles that may be stuck in between the teeth. It also creates air pockets around the teeth that help to reduce harmful bacteria growth as they can only grow in an air free environment. There are different dental flosses available on the market so be sure to choose the one that is most comfortable for you. Brushing teeth alone does not guarantee the total removal of food particles in between the teeth gaps. Flossing in an excellent way to treat the gum line and reduce opportunities for decay. Use of an oral irrigator is another great flossing method and is highly recommended.

Mouth washes are another type of product that should be used frequently for optimal oral health. They not only reduce or eliminate bad breath issues but they also help kill plaque-producing bacteria. The plaque-producing bacteria are the main causes of tooth decay, sore throats, bad breath and cavities. Unfortunately, many believe that brushing alone is enough when it comes to oral hygiene. Mouth wash reaches all parts of the mouth and gums and when used long enough, generally 30 full seconds, may reduce the acid levels. This is important because a less acidic mouth is less prone to germ growth.

Even if you practice the best oral hygiene, there are still harmful bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria, along with proteins and food byproducts, form a sticky film called dental plaque. This film coats teeth. Plaque is most prevalent in areas that are hard to clean -- like the back teeth -- just along the gum line, and around fillings or other dental products.

Plaque can be bad news for teeth. Every time you eat, these bacteria secrete acids that can damage tooth enamel and lead to cavities. The acids can also cause inflammation and infection to your gums. But, if you remove plaque regularly with proper hygiene practices, you can prevent this assault on your teeth from leading to permanent tooth decay.

A bigger problem arises if plaque is allowed to remain on your teeth and harden. That can happen after just 26 hours. When this happens, the plaque hardens into tartar, or dental calculus. Because it has mineralized onto your teeth, tartar is far more difficult to remove than plaque. Tartar is the start of gingivitis.

If tartar is not removed and gingivitis is left untreated, it can progress into a more serious form of gum disease. That more serious form is known as periodontitis. With this gum disease, pockets form between the gums and teeth. Those pockets become infected by bacteria beneath the gums. The body's immune system releases chemicals to fight the bacteria. These chemicals along with the substances the bacteria release can damage the bone and other tissues that hold the teeth in place. This can lead ultimately to tooth loss and bone degradation. In addition, studies have shown that bacteria in gum disease may contribute to heart disease as well as other conditions.

Trying to control your diet in a way such that you don't consume too much sugary foods often is another workable method. The sugar rich foods produce some oils that are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria which produces plaque. Above all, you should be sure to schedule regular checkups and cleanings with your dentist. Regular visits and regular cleanings are not only critical to good oral health but are critical to maintaining good overall health.

Be sure to use good dental hygiene products with ingredients that promote a healthy mouth as not all dental ingredients are the same.

The author of this article works with CloSYS which offers products good for dental care during pregnancy as well as general oral health and are safe to use every day without a prescription.