To maintain your overall health, it's important to maintain good dental hygiene. Most people might not be aware of what exactly is the reason behind serious health issues like heart diseases and sometimes cancer. Dentists who regularly treat patients have found that bad oral hygiene can lead to various health issues in our body. They noticed that many people do not take enough dental care and hence suffer from many bad dental diseases in the long run, leading to costly medical expenses. As we know some deadly fungi and bacteria live in our oral cavity and which might gradually enter the bloodstream to cause various serious health-related diseases. There are several ways in which dental hygiene will affect your health.  

The following are the most important dental care tips which you need to follow to maintain your overall health and well being:

1. Brush your teeth

You should make it a point to brush your teeth twice every day once in the morning when you get up from your bed and once after your dinner before going to bed. You should use a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste. You need to replace your brush for every 3 months once the brush becomes bristle. This will help you to get rid of harmful bacteria and fungus that collect on brushes. When you follow good dental hygiene it’s less likely that you may suffer tooth decay. If you develop tooth decay pain it won’t just affect your mouth but it causes stress to your body. So, to prevent problems like these, maintain a consistent brushing regimen.

2. Eat right

For overall hygiene and health of our teeth and body, you need to have a healthy diet. When you follow a healthy and balanced diet that includes whole foods like nuts, fruits, and vegetables, grains, dairy products, etc, they will provide our body with the right amount of nutrients. Try to limit the amount of junk food you intake like chocolates, ice creams, etc as they contain high amounts of sugars, salts, bad fats, oils and preservatives which are not good for our overall health as well as for oral health. Fish is good for your health as it is rich in omega 3 fats that can reduce inflammation and reduce the risk of gum diseases. You should also avoid soft drinks that contain high amounts of sugar as it raises acid levels which aren’t good for oral health. If you have a cavity that is left untreated, it could seriously deter your healthy teeth sometimes leading to needing a dental implant - learn more. 

  3. Follow good habits

As most of the food digestion starts from the mouth, it’s important to to chew food slowly and well. When we eat food, salivary glands produce saliva in our mouth which carry digestive enzymes that primarily combine with the food we chew in our mouth. So always make sure to break down your food well while chewing. After every meal, you should make sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly so that any food particles that have got stuck in between the teeth can be removed. Smoking tobacco will stain your teeth, increase the risk of developing oral cancer and various other gum diseases. If you have the habit of smoking or chewing tobacco, consider a nicotine patch or counseling sessions if you are unable to quit.  

4. Floss daily

Even after brushing twice a day, the plaque and food particles which commonly accrue in between the teeth might not be removed. You need to floss every day to prevent cavities and any kind of gum diseases from developing. Experts also suggest that flossing before you brush your teeth can be highly beneficial. It helps to keep your teeth fresh and healthy and free from bad breath.

5. Dental checkups

You should make it a habit to get dental checkups regularly which include a cleaning to remove plaque and tartar that has built up over the teeth, to prevent gum diseases and tooth decay, and also x-rays to make sure there aren’t any undiscovered issues. Through regular checkups, it could be easy for you to maintain proper oral as well as overall health. It also helps you to fix the issue at an early stage rather than waiting for issues to get worse and then visiting the doctor. This will also save you money from costly procedures. “Generally, you should plan for a dental check-up every 6 months, or as recommended by your dentist.” - Dr. Polyakov, SynergyOMS.

When you are unable to maintain proper dental hygiene, bacteria and plaque present in the mouth will get into the bloodstream and cause several serious health issues and sometimes it can be quite dreadful. An unhealthy mouth could lead to being life-threatening so visit your dentist and follow their dental care tips to maintain your overall health.