Good oral health is an important part of preventing tooth decay, bad breath and gum disease, as well as promoting good overall health. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy can also assist you in keeping your natural teeth as you age. Our team of gentle and compassionate dentists at The Village Dentist in Castle Hill know their stuff when it comes to keeping teeth and gums happy and healthy. This article shares the top 4 enemies of a healthy mouth and what you can do to avoid them!
4 enemies of a healthy mouth
The list below shares some of the nasty enemies you should avoid for maintaining your best oral health possible:
Plaque build-up
Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria created by leftover food debris in your mouth. Without good oral hygiene habits, it can build up over time and can eventually harden into tartar. It can also lead to cavities and gingivitis. You can avoid plaque buildup by maintaining a great oral hygiene routine. This usually involves daily brushing and flossing and visiting our friendly dentists at The Village Dentist for regular dental check-ups and professional cleaning.
Sugary and acidic food and drinks
Sugary and acidic food and drinks such as soft drinks, chocolate, lollies and other sweet treats can influence the growth of bad bacteria in your mouth. The sugar in these types of foods can create bacteria that live on your teeth. The bacteria turn the sugar into acid, which can draw the minerals from them. If you don’t maintain good oral hygiene, this can continue occurring and can eventually result in tooth decay. Following a healthy diet and limiting your intake of sugary foods is a great way to prevent sugary and acidic foods from affecting your teeth. Brushing and flossing your teeth is super important for avoiding plaque buildup.
A dry mouth
When you don’t have enough saliva in your mouth, it can become dry and uncomfortable. We need saliva to help moisten and cleanse our mouths and control bacteria from growing. If left untreated, dry mouth can increase your risk of gum disease and mouth infections such as thrush. To avoid dry mouth, it’s important you brush your teeth at least twice daily and drink plenty of water. In severe cases, your doctor may prescribe an oral rinse to increase the moisture in your mouth.
Teeth grinding and jaw clenching
Teeth grinding and jaw clenching (also known as Bruxism) is a common issue that usually occurs while you’re asleep. Teeth grinding can wear down your teeth, which can cause the nerve to become exposed and result in a severe toothache. It can also result in infections or abscesses because of the pressure and damage to your gums. If you think you may grind your teeth, a dental-check up can help you confirm and protect your teeth from future damage with a custom bite splint. It’s also important that you take time to relax and reduce stress in your life to reduce the likelihood of grinding your teeth, which is often a stress response.
Achieve your best oral health at The Village Dentist
We hope this article has helped you to understand some nasties that can prevent you from maintaining a healthy mouth. Our team of Castle Hill dentists at The Village Dentist are here to help you with all of your oral health concerns. We want all of our patients, young and old, to maintain great oral health and have smiles they love. Contact us today to book an appointment.
