You’re never truly dressed without a smile.
Oral hygiene is something that is often overlooked and taken for granted. Dental hygiene is usually associated as being purely for aesthetics and physical appearance. But good oral health is part of our overall well-being. It can affect how we speak, our ability to eat and can even affect our facial expressions.
What we know of oral health
Only 42% of Filipinos firmly agree that excellent dental health helps lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, and only 41% feel that oral health can help control blood sugar levels and manage diabetes, according to a survey done by GSK Consumer Healthcare and IPSOS. Gum disease has the ability to increase the body’s inflammatory load. Plaque can also break off the walls of blood arteries, allowing it to travel to the heart or brain, perhaps causing a heart attack or stroke.
Signs of a healthy mouth
A healthy mouth looks and smells healthy. A neutral breath is one of the telltale signs of a healthy mouth because a smelly mouth often means that there are bad bacteria present. Another is strong teeth that are clear of debris. Even if teeth are naturally yellowish, this should only be a slight hue from the yellow dentin layer under the white enamel. The gums should be pink and firm.
How to maintain good oral hygiene
When brushing your teeth, it’s recommended to use a brush that fits your mouth enough to reach all areas easily, and one with soft bristles. You should also replace your toothbrush with a new one every three to four months to make sure that the brush can effectively clean your teeth. Move the brush back and forth in tiny strokes, just enough to cover each tooth with each stroke. Tilt the brush vertically and make numerous up-and-down strokes to clean the inner surfaces of the front teeth. It’s also important to include flossing and gargling with mouthwash regularly in your dental routines.
Part of oral health is also decreasing sugary treats like desserts or sweet beverages. Sugar attracts the germs that cause diseases that may trigger your gums to regress and destroy the defensive tissues that keep your teeth in place.
