Oral health is just as important as your normal health and we should be making as much effort to keep our mouth healthy as the rest of our body. Poor oral health and oral hygiene can lead to a wide range of problems – from tooth decay and tooth loss to oral cancer. Here we look at some of the best lifestyle choices you can make to improve your oral health.

Eat Well

The largest cause of tooth decay and a prime cause in gum disease is poor nutrition. Eating healthy is essential for your entire body, not least of all your oral health. Your diet should be rich in minerals, vitamins and contain plenty of fresh fruit and veg. Changing your diet can have a huge impact on your life and we can’t recommend it highly enough.

Eat Less Often

Snacking and regular small meals make it easier for acid to build in your mouth and for plaque to build up as well. Three regular meals a day with just one or two healthy snacks makes it easier to maintain your oral health.

Drink More Water

Water between meals is the best thing for your oral health. Water alongside and after meals or sugary drinks helps to remove some of the build-up of plaque and detritus left after meals.

 

pouring water into glass from a bottle, on blue background

 

Brush at the Right Time

At the same time eating and drinking does actually weaken your tooth enamel. Brushing your teeth straight after eating can actually damage your tooth enamel. Ideally wait at least an hour after eating before you brush your teeth.

Chewing Gum

Chewing gum helps prevent tooth decay by helping you produce more saliva. After eating acid naturally builds up in the mouth and saliva is our natural defence against acid. Chewing gum is not a substitute for brushing but it does help in the times between brushing – especially after meals and drinks.

Stop Smoking

Smoking causes gum disease, exacerbates tooth decay, stains your teeth and a wide number of other much more life threatening oral health problems. Giving up smoking decreases your risk of hundreds of afflictions and is essential for your well-being. There are a wide variety of ways to stop smoking and you can seek help from your doctor.

Get a Better Tooth Brush

Electric toothbrushes have been shown to remove plaque more effectively than traditional brushes. Ideally an electric toothbrush will have oscillating heads and soft, rounded bristles to protect your tooth enamel.

Visit A Dentist Regularly

Visiting your dentist regularly is the best way to keep on top of your oral health. Twice a year is sufficient but you should also visit whenever you begin to have problems. You can find local dentists using services like yell or what clinic – these are particularly useful to find specialist dentists or NHS dentists in the UK.

  

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