Dental care is essential for both your oral and overall health. Despite that, most people take it for granted until they experience an issue. Gum disease, cavities, and bad breath, among other dental problems, can be expensive and painful to treat. Fortunately, you can maintain healthy and beautiful teeth and a mouth by following simple dental care guidelines, including flossing, brushing, and eating a balanced diet.

Good Foods and Beverages for Healthy Oral Health

Foods and drinks that are beneficial to your teeth include:

Drinking Water

Drinking water is one of the best ways to maintain healthy and strong teeth. Here is why:

  • Each day, your tooth enamel, that is the protective part, gains and loses minerals. The loss occurs when acids formed by plaque, bacteria and sugars present in your mouth attack your enamel, leading to demineralization. You gain minerals, like calcium, fluoride and phosphate, when you eat food and drink water containing these minerals in a process called remineralization. Tooth cavities occur when there is excessive demineralization without sufficient remineralization.
  • Drinking fluoridated water also helps prevent tooth damage by making the enamel more resistant to acid attacks and helping to reverse early decay.
  • Drinking soda juice or an energy beverage might come in handy when washing down your dinner. Nonetheless, these drinks leave unwanted sugar on your teeth, which feeds mouth bacteria that generate acids that wear away at your enamel.
  • Prevents dry mouth — Low saliva production can cause a dry mouth and increase your risk of developing dental cavities. Drinking fluoridated water can help lower the risk of dental issues; saliva is your mouth’s first defense against cavities by washing away food debris.

If you eat or drink acidic or sugary foods or drinks between meals, swish your mouth with water to neutralize the acid and protect your teeth from decaying. 

Dairy Products

Dairy products, like milk, yogurt and cheese, are rich in calcium, which is essential in building and safeguarding your tooth enamel.

Cheese and yogurt also contain protein, which helps repair your teeth while stimulating your mouth to produce more saliva.

Yogurt also contains probiotics, which are mouth-friendly bacteria that combat bad bacteria that lead to decay.

An alternative to milk is almond or soy milk, as long as it is unsweetened and supplemented with calcium.

Eggs and Fish

Eggs and fish, including sardines and salmon, are rich in vitamin D. Vitamin D enables your body to absorb calcium from the food you eat. Vitamin D also reduces swelling in the gums and keeps your teeth strong.

Seeds and Nuts

Seeds and nuts are rich in nutrients, like phosphorus, vitamin D, and magnesium. Almonds are an excellent source of calcium and protein, while sesame seeds offer high levels of phosphorus and calcium.

Furthermore, cashews stimulate saliva production, while walnuts are packed with folic acid, fiber, thiamine, iron, vitamin B6, vitamin E, niacin, and potassium.

Incorporating a variety of seeds and nuts into your diet can enhance your overall oral health. Note that you should be careful when chewing hard foods.

Drinking Tea

Black and green tea contain polyphenols, which inhibit the growth of bacteria responsible for gum disease and tooth cavities. Tea also contains fluoride, which strengthens your tooth enamel. Nevertheless, it is essential to drink tea with moderate sugar content for optimal oral health benefits.

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens, such as kale and spinach, are rich in vitamins and minerals, including calcium. They also contain folic acid, a vitamin of the B complex, which helps reduce gum swelling. Crunchy fresh greens used in sandwiches and salads also aid in cleaning your teeth. Including more leafy greens in your diet can enhance your overall gum health and safeguard you against gum disease.

Flossing as a Dental Care Basic

Flossing reaches areas that a toothbrush alone cannot. Flossing removes food debris and plaque beneath the gumline and between your teeth, preventing gum disease and cavities.

Available floss options include dental tape, floss picks, and unwaxed floss. Dental tapes are flatter and broader, making them ideal if your teeth have larger gaps, whereas waxed floss slips more easily between teeth.

Proper Flossing Technique

The step-by-step guide unfolds as follows:

  • Begin the process by selecting the appropriate floss that suits your needs and preferences.
  • Hold your floss firmly between your index finger and thumb, leaving only an inch of floss to work with.
  • Carefully slide your floss between your teeth in a back-and-forth motion. Avoid snapping your floss into your gums.
  • Curve your floss into a letter ‘C’ shape around a single tooth and lightly slide it in the gap between your tooth and gum.
  • Hold your floss tightly against your tooth, then rub your tooth's side, directing the floss from your gum with upward and downward motions.
  • Repeat step 5 for every tooth, including the last tooth's rear side. Ensure you clean all teeth with clean portions of floss.

You should floss once daily. It is advisable to floss your teeth before bedtime to remove food debris and plaque that have accumulated throughout the day. Routine flossing helps prevent the accumulation of plaque that can cause tartar, gum disease, and cavities.

If you have braces, use a floss threader to guide your floss behind the archwires.

Note that slight bleeding may occur during your initial flossing. However, if the bleeding persists, consult your dentist for assistance.

You should refrain from snapping the floss into your gum; mild motions are less likely to inflict pain or damage and more effective.

While flossing is indispensable for dental hygiene, it should be integrated with brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

Brushing Your Teeth

Brushing your teeth is one of the most basic dental health practices. Here are many reasons why you should brush your teeth:

  • Prevent the formation of plaque and bacteria on your teeth and in your mouth — If you fail to remove plaque, it can stick between your teeth and under your gumline, potentially causing gum disease. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss and bone loss.
  • Removes tooth stains that can impact your ability to smile comfortably.
  • Keeps your breath fresh
  • Prevents other health conditions
  • Saves you money—Regular brushing reduces the likelihood of developing tooth decay and saves you time in your dentist's office, saving you money in the long run.

Proper Brushing Technique

Apply fluoride toothpaste to your toothbrush, then position your brush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline. The angle helps the bristles to reach and clean the parts of your mouth that your gums cover. A flat angle will not clean all teeth, while a steep angle means that the brush head will poke and cause discomfort to your gums. Ensure you brush all tooth surfaces, including the sides and rear.

Your brushing should take about two minutes. However, it is not about how long you brush but brushing the proper way.

Since the tongue also holds mouth bacteria like a sponge, do not forget to brush your tongue as well. Your toothbrush can help you with keeping your tongue clean, or consider purchasing a tongue scraper.

Factors You Should Consider When Selecting a Toothbrush

Choosing the proper toothbrush involves considering different factors to ensure it meets your specific needs. Here are some important factors you should consider:

  • Size and shape — Select a toothbrush with a head that comfortably fits into your mouth and permits easy access to every area of your gums and teeth. The smaller the toothbrush’s head, the better; it maneuvers around hard-to-access areas, like the back molars.
  • Handle design — Settle for a toothbrush with an ergonomic handle that offers a firm grip. The handle should fit comfortably in your hand for better maneuverability and control while brushing.
  • Bristle type — Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles to protect your gums and teeth from damage. Soft bristles clean your teeth without any unnecessary abrasion. You can choose from rounded or tapered bristles.
  • Manual or electric toothbrush — Manual brushes are portable and easy to use, while electric brushes feature advanced cleaning technology. Either of the two options, when used properly, is effective. Therefore, settle for the type that meets your needs and promotes long-term brushing habits.

How Routine Dental Checkups Maintain Your Oral Health

Regular dental visits help with the following:

Diagnosing Dental Issues Early

Sometimes, you may ignore mild tooth pain or tooth sensitivity, assuming it will go away over time. However, any pain or unusual bleeding in your mouth when you bite, eat, drink, floss or brush is an indication that you should consult your dentist. Other indicators of potential issues include the following:

  • Loose teeth
  • Severe morning headaches
  • Discoloration or swelling of the gums
  • Bad breath or an unpleasant taste in your mouth that does not end
  • Numbness, swelling, or a lump on your inner cheeks, lips, jaw, tongue, or other parts of your mouth.

During routine checkups, your dentist can identify potential issues early using various state-of-the-art methods and equipment. The dentist will conduct tests, including periodontal probing, to assess the health of your gums and identify symptoms of gum recession associated with gum disease. Sometimes, they can deploy advanced dental technology, like 3D imaging diagnostic devices or mouth cancer screening tools, to offer a more detailed assessment.

Regular exams and early dental diagnosis help ensure you receive effective treatment while preventing further complications in the future.

Professional Teeth Cleaning

Another advantage of routine dental visits is professional teeth cleaning, which helps prevent bad breath that occurs when bacteria accumulate. Brushing alone may be unable to eliminate the mouth bacteria.

Routine cleanings also lessen the potential risk of serious gum infections, including periodontitis, which, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss.

Professional cleanings protect your tooth enamel and the health of your gums, thereby enhancing the health of your natural teeth.

Finally, the routine cleanings help you lower the need for future invasive and expensive dental procedures.

Dental Advice Tailored To Your Needs

Often, when individuals have an issue, they turn to the internet, a place that is full of both good information and misinformation. On the contrary, a dentist has undergone rigorous specialized training to be accredited to practice and offer trustworthy guidance. Regular dental checkups also help you establish a good rapport with your dentist, enabling them to provide personalized advice and support that suits your needs.

Since each patient has unique dental concerns and needs, the dentist can discuss your specific goals during your appointments. They will listen to what you plan to achieve in terms of your smile and offer professional advice that addresses your needs. 

Your Oral Health Impacts Your Overall Health

Your dental health extends beyond a beautiful smile and is an integral part of your overall well-being. Poor oral hygiene habits not only lead to an unattractive smile but can also cause different health conditions, including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

To reap the full benefit, the American Dental Association recommends oral checkups and professional cleaning every 6 months. Nevertheless, you might require more frequent visits if you are pregnant or at potential risk or have dental-related issues due to diabetes, smoking, or periodontal disease. 

Avoid Smoking

Here are ways that smoking affects your oral health:

Staining Your Teeth

The tar and nicotine residue present in tobacco chemicals can make your teeth yellow with time. The discoloration happens because the chemicals penetrate your tooth enamel. For a heavy smoker, the discoloration may be more severe, resulting in a brownish hue that can affect the appearance of your teeth. The staining is beyond a cosmetic issue; it could also indicate more serious dental challenges.

Bad Breath

Smoking can cause halitosis, or chronic bad breath. When you smoke, the chemicals from your cigarette remain within your mouth, limiting saliva production. Saliva helps wash away bacteria and food particles, thereby maintaining your oral health.

If there is reduced saliva production, these chemicals may thrive, resulting in often embarrassing and persistent bad breath. The problem is more severe in people with poor dental hygiene habits.

Tooth Loss

Smoking increases the likelihood of tooth loss. Smoking makes your mouth more conducive to bacteria and plaque buildup, which can cause cavities and tooth decay. Smokers are more likely to develop gum disease, which can gradually damage the structures that hold your teeth in place if left unaddressed, potentially leading to tooth loss.

Oral Cancer

The hazardous chemicals present in tobacco can mutate your mouth’s healthy cells, increasing your risk of developing cancerous growths. Mouth cancer affects the cheeks, lips, tongue, sinuses, throat, soft and hard palates, and the floor of your mouth. The potential likelihood of developing mouth cancer increases based on the intensity of your smoking and how long you have been smoking. Early treatment and detection of oral cancer can help improve an individual’s survival rates, making routine dental appointments a vital part of oral health.

Gum Disease

Smoking weakens your body’s immune system, making it challenging to combat infections. Smoking also hinders the growth of blood vessels, which are essential for maintaining healthy gum tissue. Without an adequate blood supply, your gums become prone to infections and inflammation, which can lead to gum disease.

Wash Your Toothbrush Holder

A toothbrush holder is your toothbrush's resting area and could hold many brushes in a family setting. Since toothbrushes are wet after use, your holder could be a breeding ground for mold and bacteria if not well-maintained.

A dirty toothbrush holder impacts the cleanliness of your toothbrushes and could compromise your dental health. You should wash the toothbrush holder at least once a week to prevent the buildup of hazardous microbes and ensure that the toothbrush is clean. However, you should clean the holder more frequently if many individuals share it or your home is humid.

Cleaning the toothbrush holder is simple. While some holders have removable parts that make them easier to clean, here are tips that can work for many holder designs:

  • Rinse your toothbrush holder using hot water. If your holder has a solid base with rims, swish water in the bottom and then pour it out.
  • Using a tiny brush or pipe cleaner, scrub the sides and bottom of the holder. You can recycle your old toothbrush for this task. Rinse your holder to remove loose debris.
  • Pour warm soapy water or antibacterial mouthwash into your holder and allow it to sit for a few minutes.
  • Finally, rinse it using clean water and leave it to air dry. Ensure you store the toothbrush with the bristles up to reduce bacteria exposure.

Find a Preventive Dentistry Dentist Near Me

Healthy teeth improve the quality of life by allowing you to speak correctly, smile confidently, and eat. You have the responsibility to keep your teeth strong and healthy and prevent oral diseases by brushing, flossing, avoiding smoking, eating a well-balanced diet, and consulting your dentist regularly. The Hawthorne-based skilled dentist at Ganji Dental can educate you and your family about oral hygiene practices. We can review your oral health to create a personalized long-term plan that can help you realize your dental health needs and goals. Please contact us at 310-643-8045 to book your appointment.