Oral health

First: General tips

Be a tooth two-timer!

Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. (2 x 2 minutes).

Fight with floss

Floss between your teeth. Using dental floss daily can help keep gums healthy.

Rinse germs down the drain

Rinse using an antiseptic mouthwash to kill germs that cause cavities and gum disease.

You are what you eat

Make healthy food choices. Nutritious food, low in sugar, is good for both oral and overall health.

Protect your pearly whites

Wear a mouth guard when playing or practising sports. Your dental hygienist can make a custom fitted one for you.

Butt Out

Choose to be tobacco free. Using tobacco products can stain your teeth and increase your risk of developing oral cancer.

Sealants for success

Want your child to stay cavity free? Ask your dental hygienist if pit and fissure sealants are a good option for your child.

Open up

Check your mouth once a month. Know what's normal. If you have a sore that does not heal within two weeks, get it checked by a health professional.

Re-think your drink

Drinking sweetened beverages and acidic fluids increases your risk of developing cavities.

Book it!Visit your dental hygienist regularly. Begin visits by age one and continue throughout your life.

Don’t go to bed without brushing your teeth

It’s no secret that the general recommendation is to brush at least twice a day. Still, many of us continue to neglect brushing our teeth at night. But brushing before bed gets rid of the germs and plaque that accumulate throughout the day.

Don’t neglect your tongue

Plaque can also build up on your tongue. Not only can this lead to bad mouth odor, but it can lead to other oral health problems. Gently brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth.

Drink more water

Water continues to be the best beverage for your overall health — including oral health. Also, as a rule of thumb, Schwartz recommends drinking water after every meal. This can help wash out some of the negative effects of sticky and acidic foods and beverages in between brushes

Eat crunchy fruits and vegetables

Ready-to-eat foods are convenient, but perhaps not so much when it comes to your teeth. Eating fresh, crunchy produce not only contains more healthy fiber, but it’s also the best choice for your teeth. “I tell parents to get their kids on harder-to-eat and chew foods at a younger age,” says Schwartz. “So try to avoid the overly mushy processed stuff, stop cutting things into tiny pieces, and get those jaws working!”

Limit sugary and acidic foods

Ultimately, sugar converts into acid in the mouth, which can then erode the enamel of your teeth. These acids are what lead to cavities. Acidic fruits, teas, and coffee can also wear down tooth enamel. While you don’t necessarily have to avoid such foods altogether, it doesn’t hurt to be mindful.

See your dentist at least twice a year

Your own everyday habits are crucial to your overall oral health. Still, even the most dutiful brushers and flossers need to see a dentist regularly. At minimum, you should see your dentist for cleanings and checkups twice a year. Not only can a dentist remove calculus and look for cavities, but they will also be able to spot potential issues and offer treatment solutions.

Some dental insurance companies even cover more frequent dental checkups. If this is the case for you, take advantage of it. Doing so is especially helpful if you have a history of dental issues, such as gingivitis or frequent cavities.If you have diabetes, work to maintain control of the disease. This will decrease risk for other complications, including gum disease. Treating gum disease may help lower your blood sugar level. If your medication causes dry mouth, ask your doctor for a different medication that may not cause this condition. If dry mouth cannot be avoided, drink plenty of water, chew sugarless gum, and avoid tobacco products and alcohol.

See your doctor or a dentist if you have sudden changes in taste and smell.

When acting as a caregiver, help older individuals brush and floss their teeth if they are not able to perform these activities independently.

Second: practice good hygiene for dry mouth

In addition to what's we write above, the following:

Sucking on sugar-free lozenges

Sucking on a sugar-free lozenge or candy may help prevent the mouth from drying out. Sucking on the candy keeps the mouth closed and helps keep the saliva circulating. this could temporarily relieve dryness or prevent it from occurring. It is important to choose a sugar-free variety, as sugary sweets can damage the teeth.

Chewing sugar-free gum

Similar to sugarless candies, chewing sugar-free gum may help keep saliva flowing and stimulate saliva production, which could prevent the mouth from drying out Chewing gum is a temporary solution, but may provide quick relief.

Using ginger

Ginger sprays, tea, and other products with ginger may help stimulate the salivary glands and increase saliva production. A 2017 clinical trial

Trusted Source on 20 people noted that ginger spray could be an alternative to other treatments for some people with dry mouth.

Trying over-the-counter products

Some over-the-counter (OTC) products contain medicines or artificial forms of saliva designed to stimulate the saliva or prevent dry mouth, these may provide temporary relief, and generally have fewer side effects than stronger prescription options, OTC products for dry mouth include lozenges, sprays, mouth rinses, and more.

Using a humidifier

If a person spends a lot of time indoors, they may notice that the dry indoor air makes symptoms of dry mouth worse. many people find relief by using a humidifier in the rooms they use most. Adding humidity to the air with a humidifier may help keep the airways and mouth moist, helping prevent a dry mouth.

Breathing with the mouth closed

Breathing with an open mouth can quickly dry out the airways. Some people breathe with their mouth open when they have a respiratory illness, such as a cold, or due to underlying medical conditions. Engaging in activities that cause heavy breathing, such as heavy exercise, may also cause a person to breathe with their mouth open. additionally, if a person wakes up every morning with a dry mouth, they may be sleeping with their mouth open and inhaling the dry air. Making a conscious effort to keep the mouth closed and breathe through the nose may help improve saliva flow in some people. Other tips may help with this effort, such as sucking on a sugarless candy.

Limit your caffeine intake because caffeine can make your mouth drier.

Do not use mouthwashes that contain alcohol because they can dry your mouth.

Try a mouthwash designed for dry mouth — especially one that contains xylitol, if you're not sensitive to it, such as Biotene Dry Mouth Oral Rinse, bioXtra Dry Mouth Ultra Mild Mouthrinse or ACT Dry Mouth Mouthwash.

Stay away from antihistamines and decongestants available without a prescription because they can make your symptoms worse. Antihistamines are used to block the effects of histamine, a substance in your body that can cause symptoms of allergies. Decongestants are used to ease a stuffy nose by reducing the swelling of blood vessels in your nose.

Stay away from dry, spicy, salty or hard-to-chew foods because they can cause pain when your mouth is dry.

The Links

https://www.dentalhygienecanada.ca/DHCanada/dhcanada/Information/Top_10_Tips.aspx

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324708

https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/best-practices-for-healthy-teeth

https://www.countryhillsdentistry.ca/site/kitchener-dentist-blog/2019/11/12/10-dental-hygiene-tips-for-healthy-teeth-gums

https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/basics/adult-oral-health/tips.html#:~:text=Oral%20Health%20Tips,-Oral%20Health%20Tips&text=Practice%20good%20oral%20hygiene.,not%20use%20any%20tobacco%20products.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327265

https://www.rifkindental.com/blog/7-simple-strategies-for-coping-with-dry-mouth

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-mouth/expert-answers/dry-mouth/faq-20058424