How to Take Good Care of Your Teeth
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How to take good care of your teeth is an important aspect of maintaining good oral health. Taking good care of your teeth involves regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups. It also includes avoiding sugary and acidic foods and drinks. By following these steps, you can prevent dental problems and maintain good oral health. Remember, a healthy smile is a happy smile! Good dental hygiene not only helps to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath, but it can also reduce the risk of more serious health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.
Poor dental care affects our overall health as our mouth contains both good and bad bacteria, mostly harmless. when we have a tooth infection and it’s not treated then infection may spread to other parts of the body through our mouth, and this can put you at the risk of many diseases like diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, respiratory disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Maintaining good oral hygiene like daily brushing and flossing will keep bacteria under control but when oral hygiene is not maintained properly bacteria builds up and creates oral diseases like tooth decay and gum disease.
What is Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene refers to the practice of taking good care of your teeth and gums to maintain good oral health. It involves daily habits such as brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
Oral hygiene also includes regular dental check-ups and cleanings to detect and treat any dental problems early on. Good oral hygiene is essential for a healthy smile and overall well-being. Neglecting oral hygiene can lead to a host of dental problems such as cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. Therefore, taking good care of your teeth is crucial for maintaining good oral health and preventing dental problems.
Why Is Dental Care Awareness Important
Oral health is key factor for overall well-being and quality of life.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 estimated that oral diseases affect close to 3.5 billion people worldwide. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, cancers of the lip and oral cavity are among the top 20 most common cancers worldwide, with nearly 180 000 deaths each year.
What Causes Tooth Infection
Good Oral hygiene and dental care can help you prevent oral diseases and bad breath. Studies have shown that maintaining good oral hygiene and dietary habits can help you keeping your teeth healthy as you get older with physical and emotional well-being throughout your life.
When you don’t take good care of your teeth, bacteria get into your tooth through crack or cavity and your risk to tooth infection increases, which is caused by
- Poor Oral Hygiene – Not taking good care of your teeth, not brushing twice daily and flossing can create tooth infection
- Dry Mouth – Taking certain medications like painkillers or antihistamines can reduce saliva flow. As saliva neutralizes acids produced by the bacteria in the mouth and helps in reducing microbes that leads to diseases
- Tobacco and Diet with high sugar – Eating tobacco, more sweets and drinking soda can affect your oral health.
Symptoms of Tooth Infection
A tooth infection, also known as a dental abscess, is a bacterial infection that can cause pain, swelling, and other symptoms. Here are some common symptoms of a tooth infection:
- Severe tooth pain that can spread to jawline, ear, neck, head and throat
- Fever
- Bleeding gums
- Pain while chewing or biting food
- Swelling on face, neck or cheek
- Sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks
- Bad breath
- A pocket of pus on your gum line
Symptoms of Tooth Infection Spreading Your Body
If your infected tooth is not treated, then infection may enter your body and spread to blood stream (called sepsis) which can lead to many health issues and sometimes it can be life threatening. In severe cases, a dental infection can spread to your face, sinuses, neck, jawbone, blood, and even your entire system. Thus, if you notice any of these below symptoms seek medical help immediately.
- Fever
- Feeling unwell – dizziness, fatigue, headache, ear and jaw pain
- Dehydration and stomach pain
- Swelling – Persistent swelling unable to breathe and swallow properly
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Increase breathing and Heart rate – When you feel that your heartbeat is faster than normal, and you are panting to get enough air then both of these are indications that sepsis is beginning.
Diseases Caused by Poor Dental Care
Poor dental care or not taking better care of your teeth can lead to a variety of diseases and dental problems. Gum disease is a common issue caused by poor oral hygiene, which can lead to the loss of teeth and other serious health problems if left untreated.
- Cavities (tooth decay)
- Periodontal (gum disease)
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Diabetes
- Oral Cancer
- Oro-dental Trauma
- Pneumonia
How to Take Good Care of Teeth to Prevent Tooth Infection
Tooth infections can be painful and lead to serious dental problems if left untreated. Here are some tips on how to take best care of your teeth to prevent tooth infection:
- Brush twice daily
- Change your toothbrush for a new one every 2-3 months
- Use mouth wash to help you kill build up bacteria
- Avoid eating too many sweets and drinking soda
- Avoid tobacco use, alcohol consumption and unhealthy diets high in free sugars
- floss at least once a day
- Visit your dentist for oral health checkup as recommended
Hence by following this simple daily oral health care routine you can prevent tooth infection and many other oral health diseases.
How Does Oral Hygiene Affect Your Heart
When you don’t maintain good oral care bacteria builds up leading to tooth and gum infection, infection enters your blood stream leading arteries to build up plaque and affect your heart.
Treatment For Tooth Infection
Mouth is full of bacteria from foods, saliva and plaque. sometimes due to poor oral hygiene these bacteria enter the tooth and below gumline. This results in formation of a pocket of pus and bacteria that forms within the body’s tissues called Abscess.
In most cases tooth infections are easily treatable and the type of treatment depends upon various factors like
- To what extent infection has spread
- Location of tooth infection
- Immune system reaction to infection
Some possible treatments to tooth infection includes
Antibiotics
Before starting permanent treatment, A dentist will prescribe antibiotics to stop infection spreading to other parts.
Drainage
In some cases, Dentist numbs the area, create a small incision and drain the pus from abscess that has spread to the cheek.
Root Canal Treatment
RCT – Root canal treatment is necessary when abscess spread deep inside the tooth. To do this doctor will drill into the tooth to remove pus, bacteria, tooth’s pulp any inside the tooth and fills the space with rubber like material called gutta-percha.
Once the tooth is healed dentist will restore it with permanent filling to stop further infections.
Apicoectomy
Sometimes when RCT is not enough to get rid of tooth infection then dentist will recommend a procedure involving removing end of the tooth root and removing any infected tissues.
Vitamins and Supplements to Take Good Care of Your Teeth and Gums
As dental health professional’s use several methods to treat periodontal or oral diseases additionally, some studies have shown that some supplements promote oral health and reduce the risk of periodontal or oral diseases.
Here is the list of vitamins and supplements for oral health care
Omega 3 – Omega 3 fatty acids contain most powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties which makes them most effective for periodontal disease.
Vitamin C – Vitamin C is most essential for the production of collagen which is most important part of gums. As deficiency of vitamin c leads to painful bleeding gums and inflammation.
Probiotics – Probiotic Supplements are well known for promoting gut health, but research have shown that probiotic supplements are also beneficial in controlling periodontal disease.
As periodontal disease is caused by overgrowth of bad bacteria due to poor oral hygiene that infects tooth and gums. Introducing good bacteria (probiotics) which has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties has been shown to be more effective for treating periodontal or oral disease
➤Oral Health Supplement that can help you in maintaining Good Oral Health
Vitamin D – Vitamin D helps in maintaining good health of teeth and gums by increasing body’s antibacterial defense system.
B Complex Vitamin – Studies have shown that deficiency of B12 is associated with gum disease. Taking B complex vitamin can help you maintain good oral health.
Take Good Care of Your Teeth with These Home Remedies
Maintaining good oral health is essential for overall health and wellbeing. Oral health problems, such as gum disease, cavities, and other oral diseases, can affect your oral health, leading to serious health problems.
Here are 10 home remedies for common oral infections:
Saltwater rinse:
A saltwater rinse is an effective way to soothe inflamed gums and reduce oral bacteria. Mix half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth for 30 seconds.
Tea tree oil:
Tea tree oil has antibacterial properties and can help fight oral infections. Dilute a few drops of tea tree oil in a carrier oil and apply it to the affected area using a cotton swab.
Garlic:
Garlic has antimicrobial properties that can help fight oral infections. Chew on a raw garlic clove or crush it and mix it with honey to create a natural remedy for oral infections.
Yogurt:
Eating plain, unsweetened yogurt can help replenish good bacteria in the mouth and reduce the growth of harmful bacteria that cause oral infections.
Honey:
Honey has antibacterial properties and can help soothe a sore throat or mouth infection. Apply a small amount of honey to the affected area or mix it with warm water to make a soothing gargle.
Clove oil:
Clove oil has analgesic and antibacterial properties that can help reduce inflammation and fight oral infections. Apply a few drops of clove oil to a cotton swab and place it on the affected area for about 10-15 minutes.
Oil pulling:
Swishing oil in your mouth for 15-20 minutes can help remove bacteria and improve oral hygiene. Use coconut oil or sesame oil for best results.
Aloe vera:
Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that can help soothe inflamed gums and fight oral infections. Apply a small amount of aloe vera gel to the affected area using a cotton swab.
Turmeric:
Turmeric has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that can help reduce inflammation and fight oral infections. Mix a teaspoon of turmeric powder with a small amount of water to create a paste and apply it to the affected area.
Vitamin C:
Vitamin C can help boost the immune system and reduce inflammation. Eating foods high in vitamin C, such as oranges and kiwis, or taking a vitamin C supplement can help prevent and fight oral infections.
In conclusion, prevention and control of oral health conditions are essential for overall health and wellbeing. These home remedies can help alleviate common oral infections, but it is also essential to practice good oral hygiene and seek professional dental oral health care when necessary.
Summary
Mostly tooth infections are easily treatable. A person should contact a dentist immediately once the tooth infection starts. Early treatments will stop the infection from spreading further to other parts of the body. Without treatment infection can spread to multiple tissues and systems throughout the body and potentially life threatening complications.
The best way to prevent tooth infection is to maintain good oral hygiene by brushing teeth twice daily, flossing once a day, limiting high sugar intake and visiting dentist for oral health checkup as recommended.
