I hope all of you are keeping well.

I hope all of you are keeping well!

We are going through this Covid-19 pandemic together. Sooner than later, we all need to realize that life goes on irrespective of the ongoing crisis. so taking a break from our basic oral hygiene measures will do more harm than good.

So, let’s just revise or highlight a few things you can continue or squeeze in between your Netflix and chill routine for better dental health.

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1. Brush twice a day, and do it right!

Brushing is a primary step to keeping your oral cavity germ healthy. And it is vital to brush correctly. It is common not to pay attention to how we brush our teeth. These are some basic steps to reinforcing proper brushing, so your teeth and gum health are in good condition. 

    • Place your toothbrush bristles at 45 degrees against the gum line.
    • Gently brush using back and forth motion.
    • A sweeping downward motion should follow this along with the tooth.
    • Use the same method on the tooth’s inner side as we tend to overlook it.
    • Avoid vigorous horizontal movement of the brush along the tooth surface as it leads to abrasion of the tooth enamel.
    • Two minutes of brushing is sufficient. It involves cleaning the tooth’s upper, lower, inner, and outer surfaces; avoid overdoing it.
    • Use toothpaste containing Fluoride. Avoid using tooth cleaning powder or other Ayurvedic paste as it has more abrasive agents, leading to sensitivity later.

2. Don't forget to clean your tongue

We tend to overlook the tongue, but the maximum number of Gram-negative bacteria responsible for bad breath lives in the pits of the tongue. Our tongue’s surface consists of tiny bumps and grooves, which help us to grip our food. But these small crevices can get blocked by minuscule food debris.

It would be helpful to use a copper tongue cleaner or brush (bristle surface) to gently scrape away any deposit on the tongue’s upper surface.

Use the tongue cleaner or brush (bristle surface) gently, after cleaning your teeth on the upper surface of the tongue. 

3. Floss, Floss, Floss!

It is high time you introduced flossing into your dental care routine. Keep these listed things in mind after brushing:

    • Don’t forget to floss as the brush’s bristle doesn’t reach the interdental area of the tooth.
    • Use dental floss and pass it through the interdental regions (tooth gaps) of the tooth to remove any remaining debris or food particle left there.
    • After this, don’t forget to gargle with clean water.

4. Use mouthwash.

Mouth rinses are an excellent way to get rid of bad breath. Leftover food in the mouth and its deposition are the leading cause of tooth decay. In this case, after a meal, we should use mouthwash and swish it thoroughly for around 45 secs or so, and then spitting the van helps us get rid of that debris and get a fresh, odor-free breath.

5. Gargle using warm saline water.

We can also use warm saline water if we don’t have mouthwash. Take warm saline water and swish it around three times a day, generally after meals.

The osmotic action of the salt will dissolve any remains of the food from the tooth surface and the interdental area of the tooth. It also helps in improving gingival health.

6. Drink water - lots of it!

Yes, you read it right “water.” Drinking water with Fluoride is a “nature’s cavity fighter.” Saliva production is our mouth’s first defense against tooth decay. It washes away leftover food. It also has calcium and phosphate, which also helps in the remineralization of teeth.

A dry mouth may put you at high risk for tooth decay. Drinking water helps cut your risk as water will evenly spread saliva around the tooth surface, reducing the risk. Drink water frequently to avoid the risk of cavities.

7. Eat healthy, and please eat healthy.

There’s a saying, “the food you eat today is walking and talking tomorrow.” Eating healthy is a solution to many problems, one of which is oral health. Fibrous fruits and vegetables are considered beneficial for the teeth and gingiva as-.

    • Some fruits and vegetables increase the saliva content, thus helping flush debris.
    • They help in increasing blood circulation in the gingival tissue.
    • Proper chewing also helps in the exercise of oral muscles.

Vitamin C also plays a crucial role in improving gingival health and reduces the risk of pyorrhoea and scurvy. Fruits like orange, strawberry, and lemon are some fruits rich in vitamin C.

Food rich in refined sugar sticks to the tooth surface and is difficult to remove, increasing the risk of oral caries.

All these are simple steps to maintain your oral health. Maintaining oral health is equal to maintaining overall health. I hope this was helpful!!!

If you are following this, its awesome keep at it, and if not, no worries its better late than never.

Take Care & Stay Home.

~
Dr. Eshita Dubey
Family Dentist