8 Tips To Keep Your Mouth Healthy
May 03, 2019 | Posted in Oral Health | Be the first one to comment
By Dr. Yamen Ghamian and Dr. Habib Khoury
Follow these tips to keep your mouth healthy!
- Brush at least 3x per day, preferably after breakfast, after lunch and after dinner. If you are unable to brush, drink water to naturally cleanse the food from your mouth. This can help prevent cavities.
- A common side effect of many prescribed medications is dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, which can significantly increase the risk of oral diseases such as cavities, gingivitis, and periodontal disease; stimulating saliva helps cleanse the mouth and can be achieved by chewing sugarless gum, sucking on sour sugarless candies, or using a saliva substitute.
- Eat healthy, tooth-friendly snacks and avoid starchy or sugar-laden foods, as these stick to the teeth and promote the activity of harmful oral bacteria; great snack options include fibrous foods like apples, pears, and celery, as well as foods that coat the teeth and help prevent oral disease, such as cheese and dark chocolate.
- Beverage choices are just as important—choose coffee or tea without milk or sugar, as both sugar and milk contribute to cavities; milk coats the teeth and is easily digested by oral bacteria, increasing mouth acidity and the risk of tooth breakdown, and acidic beverages such as pop, juice, and sports drinks should also be limited.
- Give up smoking and chewing tobacco, as these harmful habits increase the risk of oral and other cancers, gum disease, oral fungal infections, and cavities, while also staining the teeth and causing halitosis (bad breath).
- Limit alcohol. Heavy alcohol use can increase your risk of developing oral and throat cancers. If combined with tobacco use, your risk is raised substantially.
- Make a habit of flossing. The surface area below the gum line that you cannot see is equal to the one above, cleaning it is vital to for your oral health. Actually, the bacteria you brush off your teeth each time may not be as harmful as the bacteria that lurks under your gum line. Reason being, the bacteria that live under the gums are typically anaerobic ones, those that do not need oxygen to live and can produce by-products/toxins that can be detrimental to your gums and surrounding bone. Floss the teeth you want to keep!
- See your dentist for a regular dental exam and your dental hygienist for regular dental cleanings to remove harmful bacteria, plaque and tarter.
