Have you ever wondered what you would look like when you have no more teeth? If you don’t take proper care of those pearly whites, you won’t have to wait long to see what you would look like as an edentulous adult. Luckily, these 12 ways can help keep your teeth strong even without the expensive and fancy dental treatments.
- Always floss
Flossing is usually skipped by many people because they think brushing is enough. However, this is a very big misconception that needs to be debunked immediately. Brushing can’t clean the small gaps between the teeth, and it certainly can’t remove food debris and plaque from the sides of the backmost molars. Flossing can do all of these and efficiently clean the teeth from front to back.
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Drink a lot of water
Water helps wash away food and bacteria left in and around the mouth. It also neutralizes acidity that can erode tooth enamel and weaken the teeth. Make it a habit to rinse your mouth or gargle with water every after meals so that you can get all those leftover bits and pieces out of your mouth, and also speed up the remineralization process of the teeth.
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Don’t smoke
Smoking can make your teeth look yellowish and it also gives you bad breath. Smoking also makes you a mouth breather and affect your saliva production, both of which can affect the teeth. However, apart from the teeth, smoking also has negative effects on majority of the body organs, which means you have a lot more reasons to kick the butt today.
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Mind your diet
Teeth also need nutrition to develop and function properly. Eating a balanced diet meat, fruits, vegetables, and dairy will provide you with all of the nutrients that your teeth need, such as calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and phosphorus.
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Be aware of acidic food
Acidity increases the risk of tooth decay and cavity formation because it breaks down the tooth enamel, exposing the dentin and allowing bacteria to penetrate the tooth surface. You don’t have to completely avoid acidic foods, but knowing which foods are acidic will help you take control of your portions.
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Use the right dental products
Using the right toothbrush and toothpaste can make a huge difference on your dental health. Don’t cut corners when shopping for oral care products because your teeth might be the one to suffer in the long run.
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Don’t bite or chew non-food objects
Nail biting, chewing on pens or gnawing on ice can abrade your tooth enamel, particularly the biting surfaces of the teeth, and result to tooth wear and enamel loss.
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Chew xylitol gum
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that fools bacteria into thinking that they can eat it. But bacteria can’t break down xylitol, which means they will starve to death if it’s the only type of sugar around. Chewing on xylitol gum has been found to successfully reduce gum disease and tooth decay. It also promotes saliva production, which increases the antibacterial forces in the mouth.
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Brush properly
Take your time whenever you brush. Don’t take shortcuts, especially when brushing the backmost teeth. When brushing, move your toothbrush in all angles, not just 45 degrees. Brush in circular, up and down, side by side, and diagonal motions. This will help you cover all the areas and sweep away all the food particles and bacteria on the tooth surface. Don’t forget to brush your tongue!
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Avoid clenching your teeth
Clenching or grinding your teeth can result to attrition, a kind of wear caused by teeth-to-teeth contact. When this happens, the dentin will become exposed and you may experience severe tooth sensitivity.
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Don’t ignore symptoms
Bleeding gums, excessive tooth sensitivity, and even discolored teeth can have underlying causes. If something unusual or new has happened to your teeth or gums, let your dentist know right away.
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Consult a dental professional regularly
Dental check-ups every six months will effectively monitor your dental health and ensure that no disease in looming in your mouth. Likewise, if you already have an oral problem, your dentist will be able to treat it early if you get checked on schedule.
By following these tips, you can naturally keep your teeth healthy and reduce the expenses of dental care.
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