Importance of Oral Hygiene
As it is said that the mouth is the mirror of your general health, maintaining oral hygiene falls the utmost importance. Keeping the mouth clean and healthy should be a part of the daily care regime. Brushing and flossing twice daily removes the plaque and tartar from the tooth surface and any sign of infection from the gums. As your mouth is a gateway to your body, a healthy mouth can prevent certain systemic health conditions. Several studies have shown that excessive bacteria and viruses in the tooth and gum region can lead to certain heart diseases.
There are recorded cases of preterm deliveries, stillbirths, and low-weight babies if oral hygiene was not well maintained at the time of pregnancy. The infection load travels from the mouth and reaches the placenta affecting the fetus. A well-maintained oral hygiene status with no sign of tooth decay or gum inflammation help in preventing tooth loss both in children and adults. The chances of opportunistic infection such as oral candidiasis (fungal infection) reduce manifold in a healthy mouth. A recommended visit to a dentist at least twice a year helps to maintain a good oral hygiene status.
Some Strategies for Improving Oral Hygiene
- Many ways can help prevent infection load in the mouth and keep your mouth healthy. Try to eat as many healthy foods like salad, green and colorful veggies, and home-cooked meals, and avoid a diet loaded with sugar and carbohydrate content. As soon as you consume sugar or carbohydrates, it combines with the bacteria in the mouth and forms an acidic environment that acts as a catalyst in decaying the tooth layers, including enamel and dentin. Once the tooth decay starts, there is no looking back. So, try to avoid food that is rich in sugar and carbohydrates.
- A vast population consumes tobacco, either in smoking or smokeless form. Tobacco, in any form, degrades oral hygiene and leads to gum infection, including gingivitis and periodontitis, oral diseases like oral candidiasis, and precancerous lesions such as oral leukoplakia. Studies have proved that people who consume much tobacco have fewer symptoms of toothache, and hence, chances of untreated dental caries increases. To avoid all such problems, try evading tobacco consumption from your lifestyle.
- There is much possibility of tooth fracture or crack while playing a sport or doing heavy physical exercise. A fractured tooth may lead to tooth abscess and further tooth decay to a greater extent. Hence, try wearing a mouth guard while playing any contact sport. The mouth guard is readily available in the market and on online platforms and is also customized according to your jaw size at a dental clinic.
- Many people, including children and adults, irrespective of sex, have masochistic habits, including tooth grinding, especially during nighttime. If continued for longer, this habit may cause damage to teeth, any tooth filling, or artificial teeth in your mouth. Also, it leads to pain and discomfort in the temporomandibular joint or jaw joint. The night guards are fabricated according to the patient’s needs by a qualified dental professional at a dental office.
- Most importantly, mouth rinsing after every meal prevents bacterial loading in the mouth and hence, nips tooth decay and gum inflammation in the bud. The rinsing can be done with plain water or warm saline gargles. Mouthwash like chlorhexidine mouthwash helps evade bacterial and viral load and keeps the mouth healthy.
- Brushing teeth and flossing in between the teeth’ surface twice daily is a healthy habit recommended by dental professionals and health care from every corner of the world. Tooth brushing using fluoride toothpaste and a soft bristle brush is a robust habit that should be followed consistently by children and adults. Dental flosses also come in different variants like flavored or unflavored, waxed or unwaxed, biodegradable or natural, thread floss, and many others. You can use any type depending on your choice and comfort.
- Apart from all the above ways of keeping your mouth healthy and maintaining good oral hygiene, try visiting a well-qualified and experienced dental professional at least every six months. This will help in the early diagnosis of any source of infection in the mouth and helps maintain a healthy mouth. If you locate any sign or symptom in your teeth or gum, try taking preventive treatment like scaling for teeth and gum health, fluoride application to prevent tooth decay, etc., from a dental professional in your vicinity.
Conclusion
Oral hygiene is paramount to maintaining a healthy and fresh smile and a healthy body. This blog has tried to explain some strategies to help you maintain good oral health. I hope you find it helpful.
