5 Steps To Good Oral Health
As part of a healthy lifestyle and to help reduce the risk of oral disease, follow these 5 steps to good oral health.
1. See your dentist regularly
- Regular checkups and professional cleanings are the best way to prevent problems or to stop small problems from getting worse.
- Your dentist will look for signs of oral disease. Oral diseases often go unnoticed and may lead to or be a sign of serious health problems in other parts of the body.
- Only your dentist has the training, skill and expertise to diagnose and treat oral health diseases and to meet all your oral health care needs.
2. Practise good oral hygiene
- Using a soft-bristle toothbrush, brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque and bacteria that cause cavities and periodontal disease (gum disease).
- Floss every day. If you don’t floss, you are missing more than a third of your tooth surface.
3. Eat a well-balanced diet
- Healthy food is good for your general health and your oral health. The nutrients that come from healthy foods help you to fight cavities and gum disease.
- Avoid excess sugar. It is one of the main causes of dental problems.
4. Check your mouth regularly
- Look for warning signs of periodontal disease (gum disease). Gum disease is one of the main reasons why adults lose their teeth. The warning signs include:
- Red, shiny, puffy, sore or sensitive gums
- Bleeding when you brush or floss
- Bad breath that won’t go away.
- Look for warning signs of oral cancer. The 3 most common sites for oral cancer are the sides and bottom of your tongue and the floor of your mouth. The warning signs include:
- Bleeding that you can’t explain
- Open sores that don’t heal within 7 to 10 days
- White or red patches
- Numbness or tingling
- Small lumps and thickening on the sides or bottom of your tongue, the floor or roof of your mouth, the inside of your cheeks or on your gums.
- Report any of these warning signs to your dentist.
5. Don’t smoke or chew tobacco
- Smoking and chewing tobacco are dangerous to your oral health and your overall health.
- Tobacco use is a major cause of tooth loss through gum disease and may lead to serious problems like oral cancer.
- Tobacco can cause heart disease and a variety of cancers.
If you take care of your teeth and gums at home and visit your dentist regularly, your smile should last you a lifetime.