Tips For Keeping A Healthy Smile

By Francis Tunwase

Certain habits must be consistently practiced to ensure the health of the gum and teeth, such as brushing daily. Lack of proper oral hygiene can lead to several teeth and gum infections that would affect those areas of the body and affect the individual’s general well-being, even mentally.  For instance, having good teeth can be a source of self-confidence.

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Here are some practices and tips that will help any individual maintain proper oral hygiene.

  1. Brush your teeth regularly.

Most if not all experts in the field suggest that you brush your teeth twice a day to remove plaque and bacteria and ensure that the teeth are clean. However, it is also stated that to see the best results; it is not enough to just brush; you must know how to brush.

Brushing should be done using small circular motions, ensuring that you touch the top of every tooth. The process takes about 3 minutes at the maximum, and you mustn’t be overly aggressive when brushing.

Floss helps to remove plaque and bacteria that may have escaped brushing. The American Dental Association recommends this, and it helps prevent bad breath by eliminating food and other debris that may have been trapped between the teeth.

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According to the American Dental Association, smoking increases the chances of an individual contracting gum disease. It also makes the healing process after a dental procedure much slower, not to mention the yellowing of the teeth and tongue of smokers.