Brush up on oral health 101

Let’s start with the basics!

According to the WHO wide known definition: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Oral health is an essential part of overall health and practicing excellent oral hygiene is key to maintaining good health, well-being, and quality of life. Oral health itself, according to WHO is defined as: “A state of being free from mouth and facial pain, oral diseases and disorders that limit an individual’s capacity in biting, chewing, smiling, speaking and psychosocial well-being.”

Dental health care is a process of taking care and preventive measures to avoid dental diseases and emergencies. Removing dental plaque is the most important part of dental hygiene. But let’s be honest: How many people know what practicing an excellent oral hygiene routine looks like?

To maintain good oral health it’s much more than just brushing twice a day. Except for using dental brush and toothpaste, there are a few other additional supplements for adequate oral hygiene such as interdental brushes, dental floss, and mouthwash solutions.

So let’s dive deeper.

Brushing

Yes, brushing it’s the most important part of maintaining a good oral health - by doing so you are taking away the plaque which is naturally formed after eating. Choosing a proper brush is even more important than the toothpaste: make sure you are using an ultra-soft or soft toothbrush.

When to brush and for how long? Preferably after every meal - but doing twice per day should be just enough. Make sure it's the last thing you do before bed (no midnight snack after it!). And for how long - well, it depends. More important it is to make sure that you brush all of your teeth from all sides than looking at the watch. Someone with 15 teeth may take 1.5 minutes to do so, while someone with 32 may take 3 minutes. (more about everything related to brushing in the next blog, so stay tuned)

Use of additional supplements for oral health

Shockingly, I am not a fan of flossing. I prefer the use of interdental brushes instead, or a combination of both - using floss mainly in the front area. Interdental brushes clean the area between the teeth better and can cause less damage than using the wrong flossing technique. So make sure you ask your dentist to help you choose the right size for you!

Using a mouthwash solution will help you to keep bacteria at bay. They usually contain antimicrobials and kill the bacteria that cause bad breath, plaque, and gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums at the early stages of gum disease. For everyday use choose a mouthwash without alcohol, and when using it as a therapeutic listen to your dentist recommendation.

Healthy, well-balanced diet

It’s not just your mind and body that benefits from eating healthy, but your teeth too! Food like vegetables and dairy products are good, while processed and sugary food are best to be avoided. You should aim to eat three main meals a day, and avoid snacking in between. However, if you can’t avoid snacking choose healthy options like cheese, raw vegetables, nuts... Sweet treats as candies, cookies, chocolate, and sugary drinks are best to be eaten just after your meal.

Don’t smoke and avoid alcohol

Smoking is bad for you on so many levels that warning messages must be written on all cigarette packages. Why is it bad for oral health? Well, people who smoke are more likely to produce bacterial plaque that leads to gum disease which can lead to tooth loss. Smoking can also lead to tooth staining, bad breath, and most importantly it is connected with more severe cases of oral cancer.

Alcohol has bad impact on our oral health as well. Depending on the type of alcohol, it can cause erosion of the enamel on your teeth, possibly leading to pain and sensitivity, give you tooth decay, or leave you with a dry mouth. Occasionally drinks, once in a while, will not have a big impact, but regular drinkers might be at risk for some types of oral cancer and develop a more severe form. So consider limiting your alcohol usage to special occasions and your mouth will be as grateful as your liver!

Dental visits

I cannot stress this enough - visit your dentist at least twice per year for a regular check-up. By doing so, even if something is happening, you will find out in the very initial phase and can prevent it from developing or treating it with minimally invasive procedures - which is good both for your health and your pocket!

Now, go and brush your teeth! :)