Our oral health is directly related to the overall health of our body. Poor oral hygiene can lead to other health problems and vice versa. If you are concerned about your oral health, these simple lifestyle changes can have a positive impact on your oral health as well as your overall health.
Balanced nutrition
A balanced diet is good for your oral health and overall health. Consuming sweet foods such as chocolate and sweets can lead to tooth decay. Sugar can even be present in foods such as pasta sauce and breakfast. The best way to avoid sugar is to avoid it because sugar feeds the bacteria in our mouth, produces acid, and leads to tooth decay and pain.
If you need something sweet, try to avoid sticky foods, as they stick to the teeth and exacerbate the negative effects of sugar. Whenever possible, choose foods with artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. Artificial sweeteners, like natural sugar, do not feed bacteria, so they do not lead to tooth decay. Fruit is also a good option, as the water and fiber in fruit help reduce the acidity that comes with sugar consumption.
Adequate intake of vitamins and minerals
A balanced diet is known to boost your health, but eating healthy is also good for your teeth and gums. Nutrients such as calcium, potassium, omega-3, and vitamins D, K, A, and C play an important role in oral health. Calcium and phosphorus are especially useful for regenerating tooth minerals and maintaining their strength and health.
To get enough of these vitamins and minerals, make sure you include these foods in your diet:
- dairy products
- Leafy greens
- Cold water fish such as salmon
- the brains
Reduce soda and sugary drinks
Like sweet foods, soft drinks and other drinks containing sugar can cause tooth decay and tooth decay. Plus, people usually drink them with the sugar lingering between their teeth for a long time.
Soda may be particularly harmful because of its acidity and carbonation. Other drinks such as juice and energy drinks are no better. Although they may seem healthier, these drinks still contain a lot of sugar. It is better to leave these drinks as a temporary pleasure and use water instead if you are thirsty.
Adequate water consumption
Water, especially fluoridated water, can help improve oral health. Drinking water helps wash away the bacteria and acids in your mouth that cause tooth decay. Also, it keeps your mouth moist and prevents the growth of bacteria.
If you want to get more benefits, rinse your mouth with water immediately after every meal, especially after eating sweet foods. This will help remove the sugary food particles that cause tooth decay from your mouth.
Avoid tobacco and alcohol
Consumption of tobacco products has negative effects on your oral health. These products not only make your teeth yellow and stained but also increase your risk of oral diseases. Smoking or chewing tobacco greatly increases the risk of gum disease and oral cancer. Most oral cancers are attributed to tobacco use.
Alcohol consumption can also increase the risk of oral cancer. The more you take, the greater your risk. In addition, constant use of alcohol can dry out the mouth by reducing the flow of saliva. Decreased saliva flow can contribute to poor oral hygiene and increase the risk of infection and gum disease.
See your dentist regularly
One of the best things you can do for your dental health is to visit the dentist regularly. Having your teeth checked and cleaned twice a year is important for your oral health and overall health.
Not only is it an opportunity to thoroughly clean your teeth, but it is also an opportunity for your dentist in Kingston to detect health problems early. From finding oral hygiene to detecting oral cancer, dental checkups keep your teeth, mouth, and gums healthy.
If it has been more than 6 months since your last dental visit, make an appointment today. Your dental health will thank you.