A lifestyle routine that includes good care of your mouth, teeth and gums can positively impact your overall health. For example, maintaining your dental hygiene can save you from bad breath, tooth decay, gum diseases, and other dental and health issues.

With proper lifestyle habits, it is possible to achieve and maintain good oral and overall health.

Here are some practical ways in which you can improve your dental health.

1. Choose your snacks wisely

If you are a food lover, you are likely to store plenty of snacks in your home to munch on in your free time or when you are hungry. Unfortunately, most snacks available in the market these days contain a high amount of sugar content. This includes not only junk food but also foods that we think of as healthy such as honey, fruit juices and dairy. Therefore, when purchasing your snacks, you must be mindful to pick food items that are low in sugar content. It is recommended to read the food label carefully to understand how much sugar each serving of a food item has. Also, remember brushing your teeth after consuming any snack is essential to prevent your teeth from decaying. Even if your snacks have a low sugar content, you must still brush your teeth to avoid the bacteria in your mouth which thrive on the sugar and release acid that may eventually affect your tooth enamel.

2. Give up smoking

Most people are aware that smoking may lead to cancer. However, not many know how it can also impact your dental health. Smoking may lead to tooth staining, bad breath and gum diseases, and oral cancer through excessive use of tobacco.

Tobacco smoke contains nicotine that may limit the blood flow to the gums and lead to serious health issues, which may go unnoticed for a long time. If you’re into smoking, it is highly recommended to undergo regular dental check-ups to ensure the early detection of any oral disease. Also, you must take advice from your dentist on a treatment that can help you break your smoking habit.

Quitting smoking is difficult, but not impossible. First, it is best to reduce your number of cigarettes per day and look to eventually give up the habit. Most patients feel a positive difference in their health the moment they quit smoking.

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3. Pay attention to your dental habits

Are any of your daily habits harming your teeth? If yes, make an effort to break your habit to improve your dental health. Also, build an oral hygiene routine that benefits your dental health in the long run. Ensure you carry on with the following steps to have healthy teeth and gums.

• Brush your teeth twice daily

  Most people brush their teeth daily in the morning. However, not many follow the same routine at night. It is essential to brush your teeth twice a day to remove food particles sticking to them and preventing decay. Also, it is required to pay attention to the technique which you use while brushing your teeth. Simply moving your brush back and forth on your teeth wouldn’t help as this would not remove the hidden food particles in your mouth. It is advisable to begin brushing your teeth from the back of your mouth and then move to the front in circular motions. You must brush your teeth for a minimum of two minutes to thoroughly clean the food particles and plague resting in your mouth. Also, ensure to clean your tongue at the end of the procedure.

• Floss your teeth

  Brushing alone cannot guarantee you a clean mouth. Hence, it is essential to floss your teeth too. Flossing helps in removing food and bacterial that stay hidden between the teeth. Therefore, regular flossing before brushing your teeth can form a healthy foundation for your teeth.

• Go for regular dental check-ups

  If you do not visit your dentist at least twice a year for a regular check-up, you make a big mistake. Including regular dental check-ups in your dental health routine can prove beneficial in the long run. If you haven’t been to your dentist for a check-up in a while, it’s a good thing to book an appointment right away. Regular dental check-ups can give you a healthy mouth, teeth and gums. It would help if you visited your dentist at least once every 6 to allow them to check for any dental issues in your mouth. If you have a dental issue, a routine check-up will help spot this problem early, and you may avoid having to undergo extensive treatment to cure the problem later.

  During a routine dental check-up, you may expect your dentist to ask you about your oral hygiene routine and diet, and check for any issues with your teeth, gums, cheeks, and lips. Also, your dentist will analyse the alignment of your teeth and check for any bite

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Your oral health is as important as your overall health. Hence, it is advisable to pay attention to your daily oral hygiene as it will significantly impact the well-being of your teeth and gums. You must pay attention to the safety of your mouth at all times, including when you are involved in some sports activity. It is advisable to use a mouthguard while playing any sports game as most dental injuries occur during such activities. A guard will protect your teeth and jaw in case of a fall or hit. Also, in case of an accident, see your dentist immediately without any delay.

Last, but not least, if you want to build a lifestyle that is committed to better oral hygiene, you can take advice from a dentist. Your dentist will be able to guide you on how you can care for your mouth in a manner through which you can achieve good oral health. The tips shared by a dentist can help in keeping your teeth clean and preventing dental issues like tooth decay, bad breath, gum diseases, etc. Also, see our page: Understanding and Improving Dental Health for more.

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