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From an infant, you will no doubt have had the importance of brushing your teeth twice a day drummed into you by your parents and other adults around you. In adulthood, there is a general tendency to neglect your teeth, gums, and overall dental welfare, and this will, in time, be to the severe detriment to your oral health and your overall health in general.

Here are the five things you should be doing to protect your teeth and gums.

1.   Interdental Cleaning

Neither regular nor electric toothbrushes are able to accurately reach all the way in between individual teeth, and interdental cleaning is vital in ensuring your entire mouth is free of unwanted debris and food particles.

Studies have shown that, on average, brushing alone only cleans 60% of your mouth. Therefore, investing in a good quality set of interdental brushes and dental floss will ensure the rest of your mouth is just as clean.

Flossing once or, ideally, twice a day significantly reduces the chance of contracting gingivitis, will remove and help to prevent plaque, eliminate bad breath, and can even whiten your teeth themselves. If you feel your teeth are not improving, professional, experienced, and independent dental practices such as northwickmanordental.co.uk offer the highest standards of teeth whitening and other cosmetic dental procedures.

2.   Choose Your Food Carefully

There are numerous types of food and drink you should avoid in your quest for stronger and improved oral health, which include, but are by no means limited to:

• Carbonated Drinks
• Citrus Fruits
• Dried Fruits
• Bananas
• Cakes and Pastries
• Hard-Boiled Sweets

The best foods for your teeth and gums are cheeses, especially mature types such as cheddar and swiss, chicken, and other lean meats and nuts, as the calcium and phosphorus needed to remineralize teeth are present in them all. Alternatively, green vegetables that are high in calcium, such as spinach and broccoli, are also good for your oral health.

3.   Stop Smoking and Drinking

Smoking is now universally accepted as an extremely unpleasant and detrimental habit to both the inside and outside of your body, and it is particularly destructive to your teeth and gums.

Essentially, smoking substantially weakens your immune system, which inevitably makes it harder to fight off mouth infections and gum disease. The more cigarettes you smoke and the longer you have smoked, both significantly increase the chance of periodontal disease.

Individuals who regularly indulge in binge drinking and smoking cigarettes are at a significantly greater risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease, oral lesions, and even oral cancer. Alcohol’s drying effect on the mouth has been proven to contribute to the formation of plaque which can then trigger an inflammatory response in the gums. Once your gum tissue softens, the likelihood of losing one or more teeth is significantly increased.

Stop smoking and drinking now and protect your teeth and gums from serious problems in later life.

If you want to protect your teeth and gums, make sure to do the three main things as detailed above.