Ensuring Dental Health

A shiny, clean set of teeth gives one a radiant appearance. A set of discolored teeth may cause loss of confidence, and it generally affects one’s poise.

Have you thought about how you would look with a perfectly dazzling set of teeth and a fresh breath? Not to leave out being free of tooth decay and gum diseases. Trust me, it would be super amazing. As simple as all these sound, they have appeared to be quite uneasy to achieve.

Asides the glamour, think about speech without your teeth. It’s practically impossible. Or, it’s possible, except, of course, that you’re going to sound so incoherent that only few would want to associate themselves with someone who speaks in such a manner. So, it’s extremely necessary for you to take care of your teeth and that’s what we’re gonna discuss.

What’s the way forward in all this? Consuming diets rich in minerals and vitamins goes a long way in maintaining dental health.

Asides eating healthy diets, of course, we know that regular care of the mouth such as brushing regularly and tongue scraping is essential. Avoiding poor dental habits such as smoking and alcohol drinking too are essential.

We find that despite these dental-care habits, the risk of having tooth and gum decay isn’t eliminated. This takes us back to diet. Some poor eating habits such as heavy sugar consumption may be causes of dental problems. So which foods are healthy? Let’s take a look.

Celery

celery

This vegetable is suitable for oral hygiene. Raw celery in particular, is preferable because its crunchy fibrous stalk enhances the production of more saliva and it also neutralizes the bacteria that cause cavities in the teeth.

Cheese

cheese

Dairy products are a rich source of calcium and are splendid for oral health. Cheese reduces the build-up of plaque by reducing the level of acid in the mouth. Some hard cheeses even act as mouth washing substance because they wash off most of the non-floral bacterial from your mouth. So choose hard cheese over its soft variety.

Raisins

Made from dried grapefruit, raisins contain compounds such as oleanolic acid that combat tooth decay and gum disease by inhibiting the bacterial production in the mouth.

Onions

Now, this sounds really strange, doesn’t it? Onions? Even with their terrible smell? Well, funnily, they’re essential for dental health. Their antibacterial property and sulfur content make them fit for dental health.

Milk

Milk lowers the level of acid in the mouth and combats gum decay.

Green Tea

Green tea has got fluoride and polyphenols that kill odor-causing bacteria and toxins in the mouth. People who drink green tea regularly have a lower possibility of experiencing periodontal disease than people who don’t.

Shiitake Mushrooms

Mushrooms contain natural sugar that stops the development of plaque on the teeth.

Kiwi

Kiwi has a high amount of vitamin C. It strengthens the teeth and prevents microorganisms that cause periodontal diseases.

Cranberries

cranberries

Cranberries contain anthocyanins that avoid toxins. Cranberry juice can be used as a mouth washing agent to keep various oral diseases away. It’s also got some anti-inflammatory properties that deal with the periodontal disease. What’s more? It produces enzymes that degrade the formation of biofilm and cellular matrix. It also holds some anti-cancerous properties that hinder the production of acid in the mouth.

Carrots

These crunchy vegetables contain loads of essential nutrients, and in addition, enable the mouth to produce more saliva. This is essential for digestion. Carrots also hinder the formation of cavities in teeth.

Nuts

magnesium

Nuts enable the mouth to fight bacteria that cause gum decay.

Garlic

Garlic contains allicin, which produces a powerful antimicrobial effect. This makes it effective in preventing periodontal diseases.

Yogurt

Yogurt is rich in protein and calcium. It keeps the teeth active and healthy. It contains a probiotic bacterium that fights harmful bacteria, and all of these have a healthy effect on the gums. Avoid adding sugar to yogurt, to achieve best results.

More about Tooth Decay

Tooth decay destroys a vital part of our teeth that strengthens and defends them, which is the enamel. When the teeth are left to undergo the terrible goings-on dangerous bacteria, the teeth suffer the consequences, as these bacteria could hang on to the teeth to form a sticky film called dental plaque. This is what leads to tooth decay. And this is not impossible. Tooth decay can affect anyone, notwithstanding their age.

What`s More?

Let`s see some facts briefly!

  • Tooth decay is an infectious process caused by acid-producing bacteria.
  • Tooth decay is one of the most common diseases.
  • Babies are not born with decay-causing bacteria in their mouths; they are transmitted through saliva from mothers, caregivers, or other people around.
  • Fluoride incorporated into the tooth structure protects teeth against decay by making the enamel more resistant to acid attack.
  • A reduction in sugar intake is important in preventing tooth decay: total sugar intake should be less than 50 grams a day (about ten teaspoons) including sugars in other foods. A can of soda has at least six teaspoons of sugar.
  • People who drink 3 or more glasses of soda each day have 60% more possibility of having tooth decay, fillings and tooth loss than others.
  • Every year, children in North America spend about half a million dollars on chewing gum.
  • The average person only brushes for about 70 seconds, however, the recommended duration is 2-3 minutes.
  • 70% of Americans have had at least 1 cavity by age 18.
  • Over 300 types of bacteria make up dental plaque.
  • Tooth decay, if not taken care of, can value death: Infection in an upper back tooth can spread to the sinus behind the eye, from which it can enter the brain and cause death.
  • Tooth decay affects more than one-fourth of U.S. children of ages two to five, and half of the children who are twelve to fifteen, and even more than 90 percent of U.S. adults who are over age 40.
  • Babies are not born with decay-causing bacteria in their mouths; they are transmitted through saliva from mothers, caregivers, or other people around.
  • People who don’t floss miss cleaning 40% of their tooth surfaces. Ensure you brush and floss twice each day.

What about Gum Diseases?

Gum diseases, also known as periodontitis or gingivitis, are diseases that harm the gum that keep the teeth firm in their place. When the dental plaque stays for too long on the teeth, it forms a hard, somewhat harmful covering (which is called tartar) and sadly, brushing doesn’t clean tartar. The longer these two (tartar and dental plaque) stay, the more damage the teeth undergo. After a while, the gums become sore, developing into a condition called acute gingivitis. If gingivitis is left untreated, it can detach the teeth from the firm grip of the gums, leaving pockets here and there that can get infected: this is what periodontitis is. If periodontitis is left untreated, the teeth become damaged and may have to be removed.

Final Words…

So many terminologies; yeah, as small and simple as the mouth looks, there is so much to it. Dental health is one area that needs more attention that it gets. Everyone needs to do more than regular to keep up with dental health standards. Are you ready for what it takes?