Studies have shown that bacteria and viruses enter the body through bleeding gums and women with unhealthy teeth and gums are more likely to give birth to premature babies.

Sugar is the main cause of all the tooth related problems so try not to include them in your daily diet and when consumed, drink plenty of water; this would keep your gums hydrated. Same can be done when you drink carbonated sodas.

Here are some food products that can help your teeth and gums become strong and healthy. Eating raw food such as carrot, cucumber, radish and apple can clean your teeth. It also massages the gums and increases saliva which neutralizes the acid content in your mouth.

Protein rich food can also benefit your teeth. Food like cheese, milk and yogurt are rich in calcium. Vegetables and fresh fruits contain vitamin A and C which helps your gums. Beverage like sugarless tea which contains fluoride is good for teeth. Herbal Green tea is also known to kill the bacteria in your mouth that causes cavities and bad breath.

Foods that need chewing are good for the teeth and gums. So, nuts like peanuts, almond, cashews and walnuts which require chewing provides teeth with calcium, magnesium and phosphate. Chewing gum that is sugar free also helps your teeth by stimulating the production of saliva.

Sesame Seeds, Shiitake Mushrooms and Wasabi are some of the foods consumed by our ancestors, which gave good oral health. Studies show that each of these has a quality to kill bacteria in your mouth and strength the bones surrounding the teeth and gums. Chewing of mint leaves after every meal ensures good breath.

Healthy and nutritious food always ensures good teeth and with good teeth you can enjoy eating. So, make it a habit and let others also know that it’s not so difficult to have a beautiful smile.

So this article is about taking care of your oral health. Importance is given to normal daily activities than what really matters the most, your health. Smiling is a simple gesture which is understood by everybody, even a baby smiles when it feels happy. A lot is communicated between one another just by smiling. So you need to have that confidence while smiling.

Let’s have a look at some of the common mistake committed by us and those which are considered as sins by dentists.

• Irregular brushing habits

Brushing your teeth properly is the most basic step to maintain good oral hygiene. Although brushing your teeth after every meal is good for your teeth, it is highly impossible to do it at all the times. We cannot do it when we are at work or while going out for dinner with friends. So, what you could do is just gargle once you’ve finished eating. Make sure you brush your teeth before sleeping because food particles might be stuck in between your teeth while you were eating. Bacteria develop around the leftover food particles, this causes cavities or tooth decay. This can cause excruciating pain and even bad breath.

• Avoid carbonated drinks

Soft drinks generally contain plenty of sugar, carbonation and are acidic too. These attract certain bacteria, which can damage the enamel of your tooth. Severe enamel damage leads to tooth decay. Avoiding aerated drinks as much as possible is good for teeth. And even if you consume any soft drinks, it is advisable to brush your teeth at least after thirty minutes, from when you have had the drink. This avoids enamel damage to a certain extent.

• Don’t deny a tooth ache

Even if you’ve got a minor tooth ache, it is always advisable to consult a dentist. The pain could be relieved by a simple home remedy. But keep in mind, home remedies are not permanent solutions for the pain; always consult a doctor because the doctor knows best. Pain for a few minutes in your tooth could be the symptoms of a major oral problem at a later stage.

• Insufficient calcium intake is not advisable

Calcium intake is vital for the health and maintenance of your teeth. More than 95 percent of a tooth is made up of calcium. And deficiency of calcium can cause damage to your tooth and it can also lead to several other disorders in your body. So consume plenty of spinach, almonds, milk and other dairy products, they are rich in calcium. You also get calcium supplements to increase the calcium level in your body.

• Avoid Tobacco

Avoid smoking and consuming any tobacco products like a cigar. Smoking causes severe damage to your health, especially to your teeth and gums. Consuming tobacco stains your teeth and causes bad breath. Apart from that prolonged smoking can damage the skin cells on your lips and even worse, smoking can lead to gum cancer too.

These are some of the things that you have to keep in mind to have good oral hygiene.

There are several teeth whitening products available in the market. Some of them are expensive and chances are the cheap ones might not be very effective. So here are some of the procedures which you can simply try at home to improve the color of your teeth.

Strawberries could be used to whiten your teeth, brushing your teeth with strawberry paste makes your teeth bright and white. Strawberries could even be cut and gently rubbed on your teeth to whiten them.

Another common method is by preparing a paste using lemon juice and salt. Brushing with this paste may leave a bad taste in your mouth. But, applying this paste on the discolored part on your teeth will help remove the stains from them effectively. Salt also helps to reduce bad breath.

Although these are simple home remedies which work, try to minimize these procedures as much as possible. The reason being strawberries and especially lemon is said to be very acidic in nature. They can corrode the calcium from your teeth and cause it to decay.

Rubbing your teeth with the inner portion of an orange peel would help in teeth whitening too. You could even make a powder by grinding dried orange peels and bay leaves. Brushing your teeth with this powder will whiten your teeth efficiently.

Besides from cleaning the stains from your teeth, try to void them firstly.

• Drinking beverages like tea or coffee could leave stains on your teeth. This is one of the most common reasons for teeth discoloring. One simple solution for this would be to rinse your mouth after you drink them.
• Avoid drinking soft drinks too as they are said to damage the enamel on your tooth.
• Smoking and consuming alcohol also leaves yellow stains on your teeth. Apart from staining your teeth it also causes bad breath. Giving up such habits is not so easy, as they are very addictive. However, you need to realize that quitting such addiction not only leaves you with healthy teeth and gums but also with a healthier body.

There are several other procedures to keep your teeth clean and healthy. Simple things like brushing your teeth twice a day and gargling after every meal can to wonders. Along with all the procedures you should visit the dentist regularly too; it is always good to take proficient help.

So, do you really know if you are brushing your teeth the correct way and preventing tooth decay or gum infection? If not here are some of the important things that can help you a lot. It will help to make sure if the way you brush, helps to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

To start off with, you must brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes and twice a day to prevent oral conditions such as gingivitis and tooth decay. It would be good if you can brush after every meal as well.

What Type of brush should you use?

There are 2 types of toothbrush, even though they come in many shapes and sizes a small headed brush is usually preferred. Soft bristle toothbrush is best used for removing the debris stuck in-between the teeth. Hard bristled brush is an alternative type of brush which does a better job of cleaning teeth for people who find difficult brushing using a soft one. Replace your brush every 3 months to ensure its functionality.

What type of tooth paste is preferable?

It is always good to enquire your dentist before choosing the correct toothpaste. You will also to be told about what toothpaste can help you improve your teeth condition better.

So How to brush correctly?

It is very essential for the brush to reach front and back portion of all your teeth, the two sides and the chewing surface as well. Apply a small amount of paste on the brush and always start from the back teeth to the front in a clockwise direction. Brush them gently for about 20 to 25 strokes.

Angle the toothbrush at 45 degrees to your gum and clean the neck softly, don’t go hard on the gums as it may cause abrasions. Sweep on the both sides of the teeth and then go gently in a clockwise direction. For the inside surface take the tip of the brush and direct it away from the gum line down in a flickering motion.

With a gentle sweeping motion and short strokes brush the chewing surfaces on both sides. Also for a fresher breath brush the tongue very gently to remove the bacteria that can cause bad breath, floss with mouthwash solution (if available) only after you brush.

These are the few suggestions that can help you ensure that your tooth stays healthier and stronger for a longer period of time in your life.

TIPS:

It is recommended to visit a dentist at least twice a year for a regular checkup. A smile can bring in good luck charm. So, keep smiling with those healthy teeth that you got.