How Can We Protect Our Oral Health?
Oral health is not only the health of our teeth, but also one of the basic building blocks of our overall health. Our teeth, tongue, gums and other tissues in the mouth are directly connected to our body and affect many different functions of our body. Plaques, bacteria and inflammation that accumulate in the mouth not only cause tooth decay or gum disease, but can also trigger serious health problems such as heart diseases and diabetes. Neglecting oral health can make it difficult to live a healthy life.
Maintaining our oral health not only keeps our teeth straight, but can also improve our overall health. Regular dental cleaning, a healthy diet and good oral hygiene prolong the life of teeth and minimize the risks of infection in our body. Bacteria in the mouth can enter the bloodstream and cause infections in different parts of the body. For example, gum disease and oral infections can increase the risk of developing heart disease as well as systemic diseases such as respiratory diseases, kidney problems, and diabetes.
Brush Your Teeth Regularly
One of the most basic and effective methods of maintaining oral health is regular tooth brushing. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, in the morning after breakfast and in the evening before going to bed, is very important to ensure your oral hygiene and prevent various oral problems. Brushing your teeth prevents the formation of tooth decay, gum disease and other oral infections by cleaning the food residues, plaque and bacterial layers accumulated on your teeth. It also prevents bad breath.
It is also very important to use the correct technique while brushing. You can also protect your gums by holding your toothbrush at the right angle and brushing your teeth gently in circular motions. It is important not to put excessive pressure on the gums to maintain the health of the gums. In addition, when brushing your teeth, it is necessary to carefully clean every surface of the teeth (front, back and chewing surfaces). In addition to brushing your teeth, it is also very useful to use dental floss or interdental brushes to clean food residues and plaque from hard-to-reach areas between your teeth.
Choose the Right Toothbrush and Paste
When choosing a toothbrush, it is very important to make sure that the bristles are soft. Hard-bristled toothbrushes can damage your gums and cause problems such as bleeding, inflammation and sensitivity in the gums. Soft-bristled toothbrushes clean teeth effectively while protecting gums and improving gum health. Make sure that the size of the toothbrush head is suitable for the size of your mouth, so that the brush can easily reach all tooth surfaces.
Additionally, choosing the right toothpaste is also very important for your oral health. Toothpastes containing fluoride strengthen tooth enamel and help prevent tooth decay. Fluoride protects your teeth against external factors, prevents the formation of caries and gives strength to your teeth. When it comes to choosing toothpaste, there are also a variety of options based on the specific needs of your teeth.
Don’t Forget to Floss
While the toothbrush cleans food residue and plaque on the surfaces of the teeth, the areas between the teeth are generally areas that the brush cannot reach. Therefore, flossing is an important part of maintaining oral health. Dental floss helps clean food debris and plaque from the areas between the teeth. These areas are ideal places for bacteria to accumulate and over time can cause cavities, gum disease and bad breath.
Flossing prevents inflammation and bleeding in the gums, reduces bacterial accumulation between teeth and helps prevent tooth decay. It is important to use dental floss correctly. You need to gently insert the dental floss between your teeth and clean your teeth. Pulling the floss hard can damage the gums, so use it carefully. Making flossing a daily habit can greatly improve your oral health.
Using Mouthwash
Besides cleaning your mouth and killing bacteria, mouthwash also prevents bad breath. Using a mouthwash, especially one with antibacterial properties, can help reduce germs in the mouth. Using mouthwash, along with tooth brushing and flossing, provides a more effective oral cleansing.
Balanced diet
An important aspect of maintaining oral health is a balanced diet. Sugary and acidic foods can cause tooth decay. Sugary foods cause acid production in the mouth, which has harmful effects on tooth enamel. Instead, consuming foods containing calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D and vitamin A helps strengthen teeth. Additionally, fruits and vegetables clean your teeth and nourish your gums.
Reduce Smoking and Alcohol Consumption
Smoking can have serious negative effects not only on your overall health, but also on your oral health. Smoking is one of the main causes of gum diseases and can cause problems such as inflammation of the gums, bleeding and gum recession. In smokers, the healing process slows down due to lack of adequate blood circulation in the gums and the health of the teeth becomes more threatened. Additionally, smoking is a factor that increases the risk of oral cancer. Cigarette smoke affects the cells in the mouth with damaging substances and can pave the way for the development of cancer cells.
Alcohol consumption also has negative effects on oral health. Excessive alcohol consumption causes dry mouth and reduces saliva production. Saliva helps clean bacteria in the mouth and balance acidic environments. Since alcohol creates a lack of saliva in the mouth, it can accelerate the formation of tooth decay and gum diseases. Additionally, alcohol can cause inflammation of the gums by paving the way for the proliferation of harmful bacteria in the mouth. Limiting alcohol consumption has positive effects on your dental health and improves your overall oral hygiene.
Dentist Checks
One of the most effective ways to maintain oral health is to go to regular dentist check-ups. Visiting your dentist at least twice a year keeps your oral health monitored and helps detect potential health problems early. Dentists can detect cavities in your teeth, gum diseases, infections in the mouth and other oral health problems in the early stages, thus allowing them to be treated before they turn into more serious problems.
Teeth cleaning during dentist check-ups is also very important. A dental cleaning removes plaque, tartar and bacterial deposits that accumulate on your teeth. Tartar deposits on your teeth can cause inflammation in the gums, which paves the way for the onset of gum disease. Regular teeth cleaning prevents problems such as gingivitis, tooth decay and bad breath.
