It is obvious that our appearance counts for a lot when we meet other people. However, one part of our appearance these days is often neglected when compared to the rest. Confused? The oral bit! A smile is that underrated weapon of appeal that we have forgotten long since when our ancestors used to get a date by just smiling and sending messages through pigeons. Yes, just one smile has enough power to make people stop and wonder at us in amazement, unless you have a really awesome dog alongside or you’re wearing something really whack. But nonetheless we have been bestowed upon with this gift of expressing ourselves with a beautiful smile and we must do our best to keep our oral hygiene in perfect condition as they were meant to be.
Consequences of poor oral hygiene
Not just sparky white but we must aim for overall hygiene and strong foundations so that they look good and don’t fall apart due to poor hygiene because the human mouth is the part of the body where most of the bacteria is due to the fact that it is where everything enters (obviously). Poor oral hygiene can lead to the formation of plaque, tartar and worse it can further cause many other diseases. This can be really harmful as the damage to the teeth are often irreversible except without intervention by dental surgeries and we all know at least one guy who’s scared of going to the dentist. But worry not, as there are always ways to protect everything in this world, including your teeth. They are mostly simple habits that we’ve always been reading about since we were kids but let’s just revise for old times sake.
Brushing regularly and properly
 If we just brush for the sake of it, we won’t lose anything but it won’t be much use either. We gotta get the angles and all that you know. That piece of chicken from your last mean wedged between your teeth isn’t going to pay rent so why to let it occupy the place. Not just once a day but we should make an effort to brush at least twice a day for about 2 minutes so that there is a point to all the hardworking we’re doing standing in front of that good old washroom mirror.
AMA’s Recommended dental techniques
- Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.
- Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.
- Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
- Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.
- Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
Flossing
It is just not about removing that annoying bit of food stuck between your teeth. It’s a good practice that can also keep away plaque formation and gum diseases. It’s simply because a string of dental floss can reach the gaps where even a toothbrush cannot. It’s essential for after meals. If you want your teeth to be in prime condition then you should always keep a floss with you to keep your oral game on top.
Furthermore, a mouth rinse in addition to daily brushing increases the cleanliness of your mouth. Antimicrobial mouth rinses help in keeping away bacteria and plaque which cause gingivitis and gum diseases whereas fluoride mouth rinses help prevent and reduce tooth decay. It’s not particularly important to rinse but rinsing in addition to brushing and flossing regularly will give you an added benefit towards maintaining oral hygiene. Also, remember to rinse after every meal no matter how good the taste was, it has to go.
A few more points to keep in mind for a dazzling smile
- Replace your toothbrush after every 3 months or so.
- Avoid in excess things that stain your teeth like red wine, black tea, cigarettes, colas, etc.
- Drink milk and consume calcium based items like cheese to keep your teeth firm and strong.
- For stained teeth, you can gargle with a rinse made up of apple cider vinegar or brush with salt or baking soda but in moderation.
- Biting through food like apples, corn, carrots etc. are known to have a cleaning effect on the teeth.
- Always remember to visit the dentist no matter how scary it seems, as they are the best when it comes to teeth care.
Keep these pointers in mind and keep smiling!