5 Free Ways to Improve Your Oral Health
Quick tips and tricks for preventing dental problems.
Visiting the dentist for annual cleanings and exams is of course an important part of maintaining your oral health. But there are many other ways to keep your mouth cleaner and healthier, some of which you can implement right now for free.
Take a Toothbrush to Work
Brushing your teeth is the single most effective way to protect yourself from tooth decay and gum disease, which together are the top 2 leading causes of tooth loss in American adults. Unfortunately, many people fail to brush twice a day as recommended by their dentist. Sometimes, this is a logistical problem–people aren’t home to brush after meals. You can remedy this problem easily and cheaply by simply carrying a toothbrush with you to work. This way, you can brush after your morning coffee break or after lunch instead of letting the gunk from your meal sit on your teeth all day, feeding the oral bacteria that could cause cavities and gum disease. Of course, you should continue brushing at home before bed too.
Rinse Your Mouth After Meals
If you can’t brush after eating a snack, at least rinse your mouth out with water afterwards. Rinsing not only helps to remove bits of food stuck on or between teeth; it also helps to normalize the pH in your mouth. This is very important for preventing high-acid foods like citrus and sodas from causing enamel erosion and tooth sensitivity.
Floss!
Okay, so dental floss isn’t free. However, it is a very inexpensive oral care product, and adding it to your home care routine will deliver big benefits. Flossing is essential for keeping tooth decay and gum disease from taking hold between teeth. According to the ADA, you should be flossing daily, but any improvement in your flossing frequency will help protect your oral health.
Quit Smoking
Smoking has many negative implications for your health. It is a leading cause of oral cancer, and it can also contribute to gum disease and tooth loss. Why? Because tobacco smoke interferes with the normal functioning of gum tissue cells. It makes the cells more susceptible to infection, impairs the blood flow they need to heal after infection, and weakens your teeth’s attachments to bone and soft tissue.
Get an Oral Cancer Screening at California Dental Group
Oral cancer has the potential to be extremely deadly, because it can spread quickly throughout the body. Fortunately, with early detection, the spread of oral cancer can be checked and the condition becomes highly treatable, with excellent outcomes for patients. At California Dental Group, we offer free oral cancer screenings every Monday. If you are keeping up with your annual dental cleanings and exams, you will already be receiving these screenings. But if not, we highly recommend that you take advantage of our free oral cancer screenings at least once per year.
