If you want to keep your teeth strong and healthy for a lifetime, you need to make sure that you perform strong oral health habits. But what constitutes strong oral health habits? It involves performing steps that keep your teeth and gums strong every single day.
Oral health habits for adults can range from many different things, which we break down for you right here. The last thing you would want is to visit the dentist to resolve oral health problems such as tooth decay and gum disease, which are still very common amongst adults today.
Let’s take a look at the oral health habits for adults that should be followed every day.
Brush Your Teeth Twice A Day
The most basic yet fundamental oral health habit for adults is brushing their teeth twice a day. When eating and breaking down food, bacteria can accumulate inside the mouth you do not brush your teeth. Although, what is equally important is how you brush your teeth. If you’ve stubborn stains you can’t remove, the first thing you’d do is brush aggressively to remove them. Although, this isn’t the correct technique.
You should be brushing your teeth using a soft-bristled toothbrush in a circular motion gently for up to three minutes. Brushing hard can damage your protective enamel, exposing your teeth to infection and disease.
Floss Your Teeth
Flossing is an essential oral health habit that can remove plaque and bacteria between your teeth, particularly in areas where your toothbrush can not reach. Many studies also say that you should floss your teeth before brushing so that any debris is removed to make way for a clear mouth. It is recommended that you floss your teeth in the morning and at night if you’ve eaten.
Visiting The Dentist
Suppose you’re looking after your teeth at home. In that case, if you’re wondering why you should visit the dentist as well, it is because having a professional view of your oral health means that the dentist can uncover problems or issues which you may not be able to identify in the mirror. The dentist can also perform scale and polish treatment to scrape any plaque off your teeth and make your teeth look and feel squeaky clean.
Avoid Smoking
Smoking is a major culprit for tartar build-up. Smoking is also a culprit for weakening your body’s immune system, and without a strong immune system, it makes it difficult for your body to fight off impending infections. Smoking also contains chemicals that are risk factors for gum disease.
Avoid Sugar and Starch
Many people like the odd sugary treat now and then. However, regularly consuming sugar and starch spells bad news for your teeth. Sugar is a culprit for dental cavities and tooth decay. When sugar and bacteria combine, this causes an acid attack to form, weakening your enamel and damaging your smile. Reduce your sugar intake and replace it with calcium-rich options such as vegetables and fruits.
Drink Water
As part of avoiding sugar, this also includes avoiding sodas and coffee. Coffee contains tannins that can stain your teeth easily. Without drinking a lot of water, you’re also prone to dry mouth because of a lack of moisture in your salivary glands (or spit). Water also contains traces of fluoride, which keeps your enamel strong.
Manage Glucose levels
This is particularly important if you have diabetes, and you need to control the disease. Should this escalate, this can cause gum disease, causing your gums to recede and open your gums and underlying bone to harmful bacteria to build.
Practice these strong oral health habits for adults to strengthen your teeth and gums for longer. Any habits which cause damage and decay to your teeth must be avoided, as this can age your oral health quicker than usual.
The best oral health habits for adults advice can be obtained by checking yourself in at the dentist for a check-up appointment.
