Poor oral health can have a hugely detrimental impact on your general well-being; it can affect your speech, your ability to chew and fully digest your food and even lower your self-confidence (if you suffer from issues which impact the appearance of your teeth). As such, it's vital to do everything you possibly can to improve your oral health. Here are two ways to do this.
Take a gentler approach to brushing
If you want to keep your teeth and gums in good condition, it is essential to brush them twice a day. However, many people do not realise that they may actually be damaging their teeth by taking an excessively aggressive approach to brushing. If you use a lot of pressure when scrubbing your teeth, there is a strong chance that you could be at risk of developing a receding gum line, as excess force can push the gums upwards. Receding gums not only have a negative effect on the way your teeth look, but can also leave the fragile tooth root exposed. This area of the tooth is not protected by enamel and is therefore far more likely to decay when it comes into contact with the acid produced by plaque.
Aggressive brushing can also lead to sensitivity issues. Over time, this approach to brushing can erode the tooth's enamel to such an extent that the dentin underneath it (which is filled with tiny holes that lead to the tooth's extremely sensitive nerves) will become exposed. This can make it next to impossible to eat hot or cold food or drink without experiencing tooth pain.
As such, if you do have a tendency to be overly enthusiastic about brushing, it's worth making a conscious effort to be gentler. If the amount of pressure you are applying causes the bristles of the brush to splay outwards, this is a sign that you need to use less force. Additionally, if you currently use a hard or medium-bristled brush, it might be a good idea to swap this for a soft-bristled one, which will reduce your chances of abrading your teeth
Don't ignore minor problems
One of the best ways to maintain good oral health is to visit your local dental clinic the moment you begin to notice changes to your teeth and gums (even if these changes seem quite innocuous and are not causing you pain or discomfort).
As a general rule of thumb, minor oral health issues don't usually heal of their own accord. In many cases, they get continually worse if they are left untreated.
For example, let's say that each time your floss your teeth, you notice a few specks of blood on the floss string. Due to the tiny quantity of blood, you may feel as though there is no need to have your dentist examine your mouth. However, blood that appears when you brush or floss is often a sign of gingivitis. This is the first stage of a serious oral health condition known as periodontal disease. At this point, a scale-and-polish, as well as improved at-home oral hygiene, is often enough to stop this disease in its tracks. However, if you ignore this issue, the disease will progress to periodontitis; this can cause irreversible bone loss, tooth loss and damage to your gum line.
