Taking care of your dental hygiene at home improves your overall health

We're taught from the time we're little ones that keeping our mouths clean is an important way to avoid cavities and bad breath. As we get older, we learn to appreciate that taking care of our teeth can save us a lot of discomfort and money. But did you know that taking care of your oral hygiene is crucially important for maintaining your overall health and wellbeing?

If the bacteria in your mouth is allowed to get out of control, it can lead to problems in your mouth as well as the rest of your body. The mouth is the gateway to your respiratory and digestive systems and as such, the health of your mouth influences these other systems.

Fortunately a few basic principles can help you maintain good oral health.

 

  • Drink water in order to stay hydrated. When you get dehydrated, an early symptom is a dry mouth. Because adequate saliva in the mouth is important for neutralising bacterial acids and washing away bits of debris, dry mouth can cause gum disease and other issues with your teeth.
  • As we're all told from kindy onwards but somehow manage to forget sometimes, avoid sugary foods and drinks. Plaque bacteria can feed off the residual sugar on your teeth, dissolving your tooth enamel and creating holes. If you do consume sugar, be sure to drink some water as soon as possible to rinse your mouth.

  • Eat fruit and veggies. Not only will these give you body the vitamins and minerals required for good health, but having solid crunchy food can help clean the surface of your teeth and strengthen your jawbone and surrounding muscles.
  • Brush all of the surfaces of your teeth twice daily with a soft bristle brush and fluoride toothpaste. Pay special attention to cleaning your teeth thoroughly before bed so that the day's bacteria and germs won't be allowed to wreak havoc overnight.
  • Get to know your mouth. It's good to know what's normal for you and to be able to notice early changes that might indicate a problem is developing. Getting help from a dentist early can minimise the issue and keep your costs down.
  • Avoid tobacco, vaping and acidic foods and drinks. These things lead to increased dental plaque and gum disease.

  • Consider mouthwash if you know you're an inefficient brusher or flosser.
  • Floss at least once per day to remove the gunk between your teeth.

See your dentist at least once a year and more often if you experience issues. Call us to make an appointment.

Reminding yourself of these basics can be super helpful because it's often the basics that get overlooked in the busy-ness of life. Teaching your children about oral hygiene at home and normalising those basic behaviours above can set them up for a lifetime of health. Our team are always happy to discuss any questions or concerns you might have.

Take the first step towards a healthier smile!
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