Taking care of your oral hygiene is taught from a young age. Everyone usually has a foundation of general oral care, such as brushing teeth and flossing. Unfortunately, tooth decay begins at the start of poor oral hygiene. Poor oral hygiene allows tooth decay to flourish, because brushing and flossing are not removing debris and plaque. When tooth decay sets in, it is something that needs to be rectified right away.
Tooth decay happens too often, and should be taken with seriousness and fast action. Some people may not realize how serious tooth decay is, and may need up to date information on how to have pristine oral hygiene. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when taking care of your teeth:
- One good practice that is important to follow is to brush your teeth morning and night, and if possible, after every meal. This is good to implement because you will brush off any bacteria that may occur if you leave food particles in your mouth too long.
- Another practice is using mouthwash or rinsing your mouth after eating or drinking beverages. This too is a simple way to make sure you keep your mouth clean throughout the day. Rinsing out your mouth will kill bacteria and dislodge food debris.
- Flossing is also majorly important to keeping tooth decay from forming. Plaque and tartar form in between the teeth, so floss helps remove any left debris.
- And lastly, limit your sugary food intake. The less sugary foods you are to eat, the less tooth decay will affect you. Sugar sticks to the enamel on a tooth, so limiting the amount of sugar you eat will keep you healthier, and your mouth healthier, too.
Oral hygiene should always be maintained, so it is important to kick the bad habits. While most oral issues can be fixed, including tooth decay, it is important to manage the problem at the first sign of symptoms, before the decay worsens. Blood problems and tooth loss may be an issue if tooth decay is not dealt with, so consult your doctor and schedule an appointment if you’re experiencing symptoms. Your dentist will be able to help the decay from expanding.