editor Oral health often isn’t a priority for many people as their overall health is put first, however looking after your teeth, mouth and gums is so important and can help you to keep your smile healthy and happy for longer. It can also save you a lot of money in the long run by avoiding the need for drastic treatments. We’ve got some really simple things that you can do to help you start making your oral health a priority today! Now is the perfect time to make a positive change to your oral health and incorporate some new habits into your routine. Get ready to see improvements in your oral health with these changes!
Buy Products Containing Flouride
The first positive thing you can do today is to buy products containing fluoride. When you’re buying toothpaste and mouthwash, look at the ingredients and make sure it contains fluoride, as it helps to strengthen the teeth, reduce risk of cavities and overall prevent tooth decay. This works by making your enamel more resistant to the acid attacks that naturally happen throughout the day, because foods combine with the natural bacteria in our mouths and this results in acid being produced. This is a normal part of life and although there are ways to reduce this (which we will get to) but fluoride can help you to reduce this.
Start Flossing
Something that many people don’t do as part of their oral health routine is flossing, but it’s a really important part that you need to be focusing on. Whilst brushing thoroughly twice a day and using mouthwash does remove the majority of the plaque and build up on the surface of the teeth, flossing removes any food build up between the teeth and also removes plaque. If you don’t remove this everyday, it can contribute to tooth decay over time. Flossing is the only thing that can remove this fully, so make sure that you incorporate it into your routine to assist with your oral health.
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Once a day, you should take a piece of floss and go between all of your teeth. It’s best to do this in the evening so that you can remove the residue from the day, so it’s not stuck between your teeth overnight. This is a simple thing to do that takes just a minute but can make a big difference to your oral health over time.
Swap Out Some Sugary Foods and Drinks
Along with seeing your dentist and improving your oral health routine, reducing your intake of sugary foods and drinks is important too. Sugar is the main contributor to creating unwanted acid in the mouth (as explained above), so when you reduce your intake of it, you reduce the amount of acids being produced, and then you therefore protect your teeth more. So, if you regularly eat and drink sugary foods, try swapping them out for alternative lower sugar versions. This goes for fizzy drinks and caffeinated drinks that you put sugar in. If you struggle to cut down your sugar intake, make sure that you are regularly drinking water throughout the day as this helps to wash away some of the sugar residue to reduce damage until you have a chance to fully brush them.
Eat More Dairy
Eating low sugar dairy products regularly can help to strengthen your enamel and protect your overall oral health! Snacks like cheese, yoghurt and milk contain high levels of calcium, which are fantastic for your teeth and the rest of your bones too. A bowl of greek yoghurt with some fruit is great for this, and also makes a great post workout snack! Other foods that contain good levels of calcium are lentils, some fruits, tofu, edamame and almonds, so if you can’t eat dairy, these are great options. Another great option is to have a jar of mixed seeds that you sprinkle on things like porridge and salads, also very high in calcium and delicious too.
Book A Dentist Appointment
Another positive change you can make is to book a dentist appointment! If you haven’t visited the dentist in the last 6 months, or you’re experiencing any kind of pain, discomfort or concerns, then it’s really important that you book an appointment. Even if you think everything is fine, there are so many different things that can occur without you seeing any symptoms. When you get your oral health checked every 6 months, it’s the ideal gap for issues to be spotted and resolved before the damage is too severe.
They could also make suggestions about your oral health in general, for example you may benefit from Invisalign aligners to straighten your teeth and allow you to brush better, or you may need a filling to prevent something from getting worse. Bite the bullet and book the appointment and your future self will thank you for it!
