Don't Overlook These Simple Tips When Caring For Your Teeth
When it comes to caring for your teeth, you may know to brush and floss regularly, and these certainly are very important steps for having strong, healthy teeth. However, there are other things you need to keep in mind in order to ensure your teeth are always in their best condition and that you avoid early cavities, tooth loss, and other such problems. Note a few simple tips that are easy to overlook when it comes to caring for your teeth, and ensure you don't omit these from your regular routine.
Drinking water
Drinking water can actually keep your teeth clean and healthy, as saliva or moisture in the mouth will help to rinse away germs, bacteria, food particles and other damaging elements. The more water you drink, the more of these elements that get rinsed away and the less likely they are to stick to the teeth and gums. This helps you to avoid cavities, the potential for gum disease and bad breath. Drinking water is especially important if you tend to have dry mouth and often feel that the inside of your mouth is sticky, as this often means that the body is not producing enough saliva on its own.
Chewing sugarless gum
Chewing sugarless gum helps to stimulate saliva in the mouth, which is important to your oral health, as was mentioned above. Be sure to choose sugarless varieties, as sugar can actually increase the risk of cavities and tooth decay; another advantage to gum is that it has a sweet taste that may satisfy your cravings for actual sugar, so you can potentially avoid desserts and sugary snacks that are not good for the teeth.
Examining teeth
You obviously can't perform an examination of your teeth and gums as well as your family dentist, but you can still regularly examine the area under your tongue, around your gums, at the back of the throat and inside your cheeks. Look for white or black spots, inflammation, sores that are not healing and any other signs of potential diseases or conditions that should be treated by your dentist. Don't ignore these symptoms or put off getting an exam if you should notice them; see your dentist as soon as possible so he or she can determine the cause of the symptoms and then begin any necessary treatment. Do the same if you notice cracks or holes in the teeth, loose teeth or redness around the gums.
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