Keep Your Oral Health as Priority #1
March 22, 2019
March is Oral Health Month and the perfect time to recommit to caring for your gums and teeth. While it’s important to keep a healthy, bright smile, what you may not know is that it can affect the rest of your body. Oral health is tied to conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. This means that keeping your mouth healthy can keep your entire body healthy, and we have a few tips to help you avoid gum disease.
Brush Regularly and Properly
You should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. There is no reason you can’t brush more if you aren’t brushing too hard and damaging the enamel of your teeth. It’s particularly important that you brush at night to remove the plaque and food that builds up during the day.
Pay Attention to Your Tongue
It’s not just your teeth you need to brush – it’s also your tongue. The tongue is a prime place for bacteria and plaque to build up. This causes some oral health problems and can cause consistent bad breath. Every time you brush your teeth, take an extra second to gently brush your tongue.
Treat Flossing As Important
Brushing is vital to your oral health care, but flossing is just as important. Even a toothbrush leaves behind small pieces of food and debris that can build up over time. Flossing cleans between every crack to ensure that the mouth and teeth are completely clean. Floss regularly, at least once a day.
Increase Water Intake
One easy way to improve your oral health and to hydrate your body is to increase your water intake. Drink water after every meal, as it can rinse away some of the bad things left behind after you eat.
Want to Learn More?
If you want to learn more about how to keep your mouth and gums healthy, contact us at Nashville Periodontal Group to schedule an appointment with a periodontist in Nashville, TN. Take this opportunity to meet with Dr. Akin to get healthier.