Gum and teeth care

By Nelly Obadha

The teeth and gums are delicate parts of the human anatomy that require meticulous care. When your gums and teeth are healthy, you feel confident and won’t have to worry about nagging dental problems and bad smell from your mouth. Lack of proper dental care will lead to tooth decay, weak and even teeth loss.

Apart from teeth problems, poor dental care also leads to gum diseases and infections.

Steps to taking care of your teeth

Brushing teeth

For clean and healthy teeth, brush your teeth at least twice a day or after every meal. Brushing teeth removes food particles that stick to your teeth and may lead to bad smell. It also removes plaque, a bacteria coating on the teeth and mouth, which reacts with food particles to produce acid that may cause cavities.

When brushing your teeth, use circular motions and clean one tooth at a time until you go through all your teeth. Ensure you have brushed the sides of your teeth and also the top chewing area. Ensure the bristles get between the teeth to remove any particles. After three minutes of brushing, thoroughly rinse your mouth with clean water.

It is vital to also brush your tongue as it holds food particles and bacteria. You can use your brush or a tongue scraper. Scrubbing your tongue also eliminates foul smell from your mouth.

Flossing

Floss your teeth once a day. This helps to clean the areas between your teeth that the bristles of your tooth brush cannot reach.

Eating healthy

This is a vital part of your general health and also contributes to the good health of your gums and teeth. Milk and other foods rich in calcium build healthy strong teeth. Avoid foods with a lot of starch and sugar, as they produce a lot of acids when broken down. Otherwise, ensure you brush your teeth after a sugary snack.

Visit a dentist

Schedule a visit to the dentist every six months. During such visits, the dentist will thoroughly clean the teeth and fill in cavities. The dentist will also advise you on what measures to take to improve the health of your teeth.

Other measures to ensure clean and healthy teach include using a mouthwash and changing your toothbrush every three months.