Three Key Elements of Dental Care
Taking care of your teeth and gums is crucial in ensuring you cn continue using your mouth to eat, drink, talk and smile comfortably. These are important functions that enable you to conduct day-to-day activities and also survive. Here are the key elements of proper dental health care.
Brush and Floss Your Teeth
Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day; in the morning and the evening. Based on your preference or work schedule, you might either find it convenient to brush after or before breakfast. The most recommended time is before breakfast; if you must brush after breakfast, wait for at least thirty minutes. Why?
Sometimes, you might eat some foods that have mild acids. These acids weaken your enamel temporarily. Brushing immediately after breakfast means you will be scrubbing weakened enamel, which if done frequently, can lead to enamel damage and holes in your teeth. Waiting for at least thirty minutes helps your enamel to recover, so there are minimal chances of enamel damage.
In the evening, brush before sleeping but at least thirty minutes after supper/dinner.
Visit Your Dentist
There are three categories of times when you should visit a dentist:
- The first dental visit – Every parent should take their child to a paediatric dentist as soon as the first baby teeth start coming out. The main purpose of this visit is to ensure that your child's teeth are growing correctly. The dentist also makes sure that there are no underlying conditions.
- When you are ailing – If you experience any dental problems (pain, swelling, bleeding, etc.), visit your dentist immediately. Delaying might lead to worsening of your condition.
- Regular dental visits for monitoring – Based on the dentist's findings after inspecting your teeth, he or she may require that you visit the dental clinic regularly for monitoring purposes.
Wear Mouthguards When Needed
If you know that you play impact sports like boxing and ice hockey, wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth. You might come across three different types of mouthguards; ready-made, boil-and-bite and custom-made mouthguards.
The most recommended are boil-and-bite and custom-made mouthguards, mainly because they fit better in your mouth and allow you to talk during gameplay. Custom-made mouthguards are made by dentists, meaning you have to visit a dental clinic for them to be made. Boil-and-bite mouthguards, on the other hand, are bought over-the-counter and are cheaper than custom-made mouthguards.
To learn more, contact a dentist.
Share