Dental health is a gateway to our general health and wellbeing. Keeping your teeth healthy and clean goes beyond the esthetic needs. And, for that reason, you need to ensure that you keep your dental health at its best in your entire lifetime. One way to do so would be by going for regular check-ups, like at this dentist in charlotte nc. This post explores five ways to maintain your oral health. The five methods here have proven to be the most effective, especially after your meals.
Before you jump into bed after supper, you need to ensure that you carry out at least one of these practices to save your teeth. You could also do the same during the day. There is no need to wait for bedtime before you do something for your teeth. Each time you have had a hearty meal, do something to save the teeth.
These are five of the most effective methods you can use to care for your teeth each time you have finished eating.
1. Brush Your Teeth After Meals
We already know how essential it is to brush the teeth at least twice a day. However, the number of times you can clean them has no limits. You can do it even four to six times a day. The more you clean your teeth, the better you will be in ensuring that you stay healthy.
Brushing after every meal will help you to get rid of plaque and food remains. By this, you discourage the growth of bacteria on your mouth. The process also gets rid of food remains that can decompose on the teeth.
Sometimes, it is hard to go to the bathroom to clean the teeth after each meal. In such cases, you can carry a brush with you to brush wherever you are. You can do it in your office after lunch or in the car before driving back home. Toothpaste will not be necessary. All you need to achieve is to reduce the food particles in your mouth.
2. Use Fruit Snacks
Snacking between meals is a common way for most people to refuel themselves before they get that tasty meal. Some snacks, however, have a lot of processed carbohydrates, fats, and sugars. These ingredients are not necessary for the body. Most of them cause more harm to your body than the benefits the snack gives you.
A fruit salad for a snack would be a better option. Apart from the natural sugars in fruits, you also get various types of vitamins that are essential for your body and low to no levels of fats. You can as well eat fruit after a meal to remove food particles from your teeth. However, because of the acidity nature and high sugar content, you should minimize the amount of fruit you take in a day and clean your mouth immediately.
3. Floss After Dinner
Although flossing is as apparent as brushing your teeth, several people usually forget or ignore its necessity, and they leave plaque to build up between their teeth. Flossing is one necessary thing to do for your teeth to remain healthy. Flossing and brushing work together. But you do not have to do them at the same time.
Flossing helps to remove particles of food and plaque from places where your toothbrush cannot reach. After a meal, flossing can help you to get rid of the food particles from your teeth. You can brush your teeth and floss afterwards. Ensure you follow the right flossing procedure for the best results.
4. Chew Gum
You have probably heard many times that chewing gum will damage your teeth. True. When you chew sugary gum, it will lead to the accumulation of sugars on your teeth, which later turn to acid due to bacterial activity.
When we were kids, we used to lick sugar and eat sweets, which led to early tooth decay. When that happens, an anterior crown is necessary to restore the tooth.
Sugarless gum, however, is the right companion for your meals to ensure that your teeth remain healthier. Chewing gum helps your glands to produce more saliva. The saliva is necessary for washing off any particles on your teeth – including excessive sugar. Saliva also contains some of the minerals that help to replace your teeth enamel and maintain its strength.
5. Drink an Adequate Amount of Water
Water is life – everywhere. Wherever water is, things go smooth, except when it is in excess. Drinking water is necessary for keeping your teeth free from decay. Water, like saliva, helps to wash off any excess sugars on the surface of your teeth. It, therefore, helps to prevent bacterial activities that lead to the rotting of your teeth.
When drinking water, ensure that you take enough to enhance digestion and other metabolic activities in the body. But if you have to drink after every meal, you may reduce the amount you take in between meals. The total amount of water you need, however, can be different from what others need.
Summing Up
Caring for your teeth entails a lot of processes and guidelines. Among the many teeth maintenance practices, the five methods work best after taking your meals. Staying consistent in your everyday efforts will make your teeth healthy and strong, which improves your overall wellness. Also, visit your dentist regularly, you could always Google the best dentist near me and pay a visit to one.