9 tried and tested tips from NHS dentist to maintain sound oral health

A healthy and radiant smile undoubtedly makes anyone aesthetically more appealing. It also indicates overall sound health. But one must be little conscious and careful about the teeth to ensure they remain strong, healthy, free of diseases and smoothly functional lifelong. Without taking proper care and maintenance of the teeth it is not possible maintaining them in top condition for years together. In order to maintain the teeth in sound health and free from diseases you have to follow good oral hygiene practices religiously says a dentist in London. How do you keep the teeth healthy? In the following sections of this post let us explore few tried and tested tips on keeping the teeth healthy and disease-free. Qualified dental professionals suggest these tips to make your task easier.

Brush the teeth twice a day

Brushing and flossing the teeth form the basics of any oral hygiene regimen. There are no better alternatives to these when maintaining sound oral health is concerned. You should brush the teeth twice a day, in the morning while starting your day and at night before going to bed. Always make use of a toothbrush that has soft bristles and any fluoride toothpaste. You should brush exactly for two minutes, which means you spare only 30 seconds for cleaning each quadrant of the mouth. The right brushing technique is crucial to clear away harmful plaque build-ups from your teeth and the overall mouth. You should never brush vigorously and rather always apply gentle pressure of the hand. Move the brush in small circular motion and cover all the three surfaces of the teeth. An NHS dentist in Wimbledon suggests, while brushing the teeth you should clean the tongue every time. This not only gives you a fresh breath but also makes your overall mouth sufficiently free from harmful bacteria that cause various dental issues including tooth decay and gum disease.

You must floss everyday

Flossing forms the basics of any oral hygiene regimen just like brushing. You must floss the teeth once daily. This technique clears away harmful plaques and stuck food particles from the areas in your mouth where the bristles of a toothbrush fail to reach. Therefore, it is rightly said that without flossing the teeth your oral hygiene routine is never complete. Flossing brings out stuck food debris and harmful plaques particularly from the areas between the teeth and along the gum line. While flossing the teeth you should be little careful not to damage the tissues of the gum. The best time to floss is at night before going to bed.

Rinse the mouth well with any antibacterial and alcohol-free mouthwash

Rinsing the mouth once every day with a mouthwash eliminates harmful bacteria that cause various diseases. There are varieties of this product available in the market. The one that you choose should better be antibacterial or antimicrobial with a fluoride base and free from alcohol. This particular variety of the product clears away harmful bacteria from the mouth and also reinforces your teeth and the gums. If you are confused choosing the right variety of mouthwash, the best thing to do is ask your dentist to recommend you one.

Stick to an all-round balanced diet

Your daily diet plays a major role in determining your oral health and wellbeing. A balanced diet is utmost necessary to maintain your teeth and the gums strong, healthy and free from diseases. Make sure whatever diet you maintain every day it must contain fresh fruits, leafy, crunchy, greenie vegetables and dairy products that are low in fat content. Along with that certain types of nuts and items that provide lean protein to the body are necessary suggests an NHS dentist in Wimbledon. Along with that you should limit your consumption of sugary foods and drinks to ensure typical oral health problems like tooth cavity and gum disease stay at bay.

Drink sufficient quantity of water throughout the day to keep the mouth hydrated

It is also important to keep the mouth hydrated throughout the day and for that you have to drink sufficient quantity of water a little at a time at regular intervals. Water also rinses away food particles and acids that may damage your oral health and wellbeing. Harmful bacteria and other microorganisms cannot thrive in a hydrated mouth whereas they thrive well in a dry mouth. Drinking little water to swish away the harmful effects from the mouth is even more important after consuming any acidic or sugary food as well as drink.

Sugar-free gums are your trusted friend

Saliva has a major role to play ranging from keeping your mouth hydrated and not let it go dry, to more saliva creation which helps neutralising acids in the mouth and clearing away stuck food particles stuck between the teeth and much more. There is nothing better than chewing sugar-free gums after meals to keep your teeth and the gums strong and healthy.

Cut down on consumption of acidic foods and drinks

Acidic foods and drinks are known to erode away the natural protective enamel structure of the tooth leading to decay and other oral health issues. It is best to limit your consumption of this category of foods and drinks which mainly include various citrus fruits and soda.

Make use of a mouth guard

A busy NHS dentist in Wimbledon suggests if you take part in any contact sports or suffer from grinding the teeth at night in sleep (in dental terms this is called bruxism) then you must make use of a mouth guard. This is a protective device which shields your teeth from injury and damage. You may even ask your dentist to build you a customised mouth guard which fits perfectly in your mouth and provides greater protection from any accidental damage of your teeth.

Go for routine dental checkups at regular intervals

Routine dental checkups are crucial to detect as well as address any oral issue in its initial stages and nip it in bud before it snowballs into something major. Ideally you should go for your routine dental checkups every six months.

If you follow the tips discussed above then staying safe from typical oral health problems like tooth decay, gum disease and cavities is not very difficult suggest dentists working at the renowned SW19 Confidental Dental Clinic in London. Maintaining your teeth and the gums in sound health is not only important for your electrifying smile but also for your overall wellbeing. For any query you may contact Wimbledon Based NHS Dentist now.