They say that a smile is the most beautiful thing a woman
possesses; one that can bring the whole armies down to their knees. So, are you
taking care of that precious smile? Good oral hygiene not only adds beauty to
your smile but also keeps the gum and mouth infections away.
WHO defines oral health as, “a state of being free from chronic
mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral sores, birth defects, such
as cleft lip and palate, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay and tooth loss,
and other diseases and disorders that affect the oral cavity”.
Common
Symptoms of Bad Oral Health:
Bad
breath
Sore,
swollen and bleeding gums
Deposits
of plaque and tartar or your teeth
Receding
gums
Toothache
and sensitive teeth
Preventive
Care For Good Oral Health:
You
need to keep in mind the following necessary things for good oral health:
1. Brushing:
Brush your teeth twice a day. But if you eat small, frequent meals
in a day, then twice is not enough. It can lead to plaque buildup, which causes
cavities and other gum diseases. So try to brush thrice a day for better
hygiene.
Brushing your teeth properly in the correct way is important.
Brush the outside (front part), inside (back part) and chewing side of each of
your teeth thoroughly by moving the brush in a circular motion. Keep the
motions gentle otherwise you might harm your enamel.
It
takes 2 minutes brushing time to remove all the bacteria.
2. Tongue Cleaning:
Have you ever noticed the white coating on your tongue when you
wake up in the morning? That whiteness is the accumulated toxin. Even Ayurveda
points out the importance of cleaning the tongue to get rid of that whiteness.
It not only keeps your mouth healthy but affects your overall health.
Many dentists now suggest the use of tongue
scrapers for cleaning the tongue. It successfully removes the stubborn
anaerobic bacteria collected in the mouth.
Proper technique of using a tongue scraper is to hold the scraper
on both the ends. Then extend your tongue outside. Now put it as far back on
your tongue as you can with triggering any gag reflex and scrape it forward
removing the white toxic coating. Do it gently so as to not harm your tongue.
3. Flossing:
Flossing
is important and we know it, right? But how many of us actually floss our teeth
daily? Not many! Floss your teeth properly once a day. It cleans the sides of
the teeth. It also cleanses the food that gets stuck between the teeth, which
if not cleaned may lead to tooth decay.
To
floss your teeth, use 18’’ floss and gently following the curves of your teeth,
clean the area along the gum line.
4. Dental Check-up:
Go to
a good dentist for regular dental check-ups and clean-ups. These clean-ups
further reduce the chances of any diseases but even then if you get any disease
your dentist will detect it early to treat it effectively.
5. Some Tips:
For
strong teeth and gums, rub a mixture of mustard oil and salt on your teeth and
gums daily. Using a small amount, first check whether it triggers any allergy
or causes any new ache.
Rock salt is good for black and weak gums.
Brushing your teeth gently with baking soda and lemon juice
mixture can get you whiter teeth.
Change your tooth brush after every 3-4 months.
Use a toothpaste containing fluoride.
Tea contains flavonoids and fluoride, which prevent the bacteria
from sticking to teeth.
Include tooth-cleaning foods in your diet. These foods are also
known as ‘detergent’ foods in the dental care world. Examples of these foods
are apple, grape, carrot, peer, and strawberries. These fruits also keep our
teeth strong.
The oil-cleaning method with sesame oil cleanses all the toxic
substances from the mouth according to Ayurveda. Put some sesame oil in your
mouth and swish it all around for 10-15minutes.
Dark chocolate is said to benefit the tooth enamel by making it
stronger.
Use mouth rinses that fight bacteria. It should be anti-plaque and
should contain fluoride as it helps to deal with problems like dry mouth, bad
breath to keep the mouth bacteria free.
Keep cardamom (ilaichi) or saunf with you as they are natural
breath fresheners. They also prevent accumulation of bacteria after eating.
You know how earlier it was believed that old age results in
falling of tooth and other tooth and gum diseases? Well now that myth is busted
and science tells us that with proper oral health care, you can keep your smile
pretty right till the end!
Do
you follow these oral health care steps? Do you have anything to add? Do share
with us in the comments section.
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