Oral and dental hygiene: how can you keep your mouth and teeth healthy?
To keep your mouth and teeth healthy, it is important to adopt a few simple daily habits and go for a preventive dental check-up every year. This hygiene is crucial for avoiding conditions such as cavities, gum inflammation, and periodontitis and for keeping your mouth healthy in the long term. With these tips, you will go through life with a radiant smile!
Oral and dental hygiene is very important at every age. Food particles accumulate between the teeth. These slowly decay and eventually form 'plaque' on your teeth. Dental plaque consists of a thin layer of bacteria and can have several consequences:
- bad breath
- cavities
- periodontal diseases (gum inflammation, periodontitis): the bacteria trigger an inflammatory reaction that can affect the supporting dental tissues, such as the bone and gums, and can even lead to tooth loss.
The good news is that healthy people can prevent these oral and dental problems. How? With our tips!
Brushing to protect your teeth
A matter of common sense: the best way to prevent bacteria from spreading throughout your mouth is to brush regularly and effectively with a suitable toothpaste. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, ideally after every meal, to remove and prevent plaque. Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles as it is gentler on your gums. Furthermore, use small circular motions when brushing.
Manual or electric toothbrush?
Discuss this with your dentist to get the right advice. Studies show that certain electric toothbrushes are more effective at reducing plaque, especially in hard-to-reach places.1
Do you wear a specific type of dental prosthesis? Then the tips for good dental hygiene naturally also apply to you. In that case, opt for targeted dental care.
Drinking enough water throughout the day can help to remove plaque
Use dental floss and/or interdental brushes to fight plaque
Dental floss and interdental brushes help you clean your teeth in places your toothbrush cannot reach. Dental floss is more effective for teeth that are close together. Brushes, on the other hand, are ideal for those with more space between their teeth. Your dentist will tell you during a check-up what is best for you to use and how to do it. However, know that the combination of dental floss and brushes is an effective way to significantly reduce plaque and gum inflammation.2
Drink plenty of fluids and eat a healthy diet3,4
Saliva plays a central role in maintaining the acid-base balance in the mouth and helps to remove food residues and bacteria. By drinking enough water throughout the day, you stay hydrated and stimulate saliva production.
Foods rich in fiber, such as fresh vegetables and fruit, also promote saliva production, which helps protect your teeth. Dairy products (rich in calcium and phosphates) are also beneficial for tooth enamel.
Be careful with sugar, however. Added sugars, especially in sugary drinks, stimulate the growth of acid-producing bacteria in the mouth, resulting in a higher risk of cavities. Also avoid tobacco and limit alcohol! Both smoking and alcohol have a negative effect on oral and dental health. Smoking, in particular, significantly increases the risk of gum disease or bone loss around the teeth.
Visit your dentist regularly
During an annual check-up, or even a semi-annual check-up for at-risk individuals, problems can be detected and treated in a timely manner before they worsen. A preventive dental visit therefore helps keep your mouth and teeth healthy for a long time. Why wouldn't you do it, anyway? In Belgium, that annual oral examination is included in the compulsory health insurance.
Scientific references
Product mentioned in this article
Protefix
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