5 Ways to Improve Your Dental Care and Prevent Tooth Loss
Dental care can be challenging, especially if you don’t have a routine. This doesn’t mean that you should give up on your dental health completely.
There are simple ways to improve your dental care and prevent tooth loss.
Modern Dental Centre in Ballarat shares with us 5 tips will help you prevent tooth loss from decaying teeth, periodontal disease or other conditions that can take away your oral health.
The best thing about these tips is that they are not expensive and can be done at home!
1. Brush your teeth regularly
Brushing your teeth is the first step to healthy teeth. When you brush your teeth, you are removing plaque and bacteria. Once plaque has built up and hardened, it becomes tartar and is much more difficult to remove.
The longer you leave plaque on your teeth, the higher your risk of developing cavities and gum disease.
Brushing your teeth correctly can help prevent bacterial build-up and early tooth loss. For best results, follow these brushing tips:
- Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time.
- Aim to brush all surfaces of your teeth, including the inside surfaces, the tops and the outside.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head.
- Use fluoride toothpaste.
- Replace your toothbrush every three months or sooner if the bristles are worn.
2. Use a tongue scraper
The next part of your oral hygiene routine should be scraping your tongue. Your tongue harbors millions of bacteria that can cause bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease.
You can use a wooden tongue scraper or a plastic tongue brush to remove the bacteria and excess saliva from your tongue. This will reduce your risk of tooth loss.
A clean tongue is an important part of your dental health. It can reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease by up to 50%.
If you find it difficult to scrape your tongue, you may have a buildup of thickened mucus. This can be caused by medication, allergies or a dry mouth.
3. See your dentist more often
You should see your dentist at least twice a year. There are a number of reasons why you should visit the dentist more frequently:
- Early detection of signs of tooth decay or periodontal disease will help you prevent tooth loss.
- Regular cleanings and check-ups can prevent gum disease.
- A dental exam will help your dentist map out the best treatment plan for you.
The early stages of tooth decay are painless, but they can lead to tooth loss and dental abscesses if left untreated.
A few visits to the dentist can prevent a lot of pain, time and money in the long run.
4. Try using a fluoride mouthwash
Mouthwashes with fluoride can help prevent tooth loss. Fluoride can slow down and reverse the effects of tooth decay. It can also prevent and treat gingivitis.
Fluoride mouthwashes can:
- Prevent tooth loss.
- Reduce the risk of cavities.
- Reduce the risk of gum disease.
- Reduce the risk of oral cancer.
- Help you maintain a healthy oral hygiene routine.
When buying a fluoride mouthwash, make sure it has at least 1000 parts per million of fluoride. What’s more, you should use mouthwash twice a day.
Remember to spit out the excess solution after each use. Drinking a mouthwash will not only be wasteful, but it can poison your body and lead to serious physical side effects.
5. Eat healthy snacks and meals
You can’t eat your way to healthy teeth and gums. This is why it is important to eat healthy snacks and meals.
Chewing improves saliva flow and helps teeth remineralise. It can even reverse the rate of tooth decay!
What should you eat?
Anything that is high in calcium and vitamin D.
Calcium and vitamin D are essential for healthy teeth and gums. When you consume foods rich in calcium, the calcium is absorbed by the body. The absorbed calcium helps retain the minerals in your teeth.
Conclusion
Tooth loss is a slow and painful process. If you want to prevent tooth loss, you need to start taking care of your teeth from a young age.
There are many ways to improve your dental care, but the most important thing is that you start now! Find more informative content ideas here with our upcoming articles.
