At-Home Measures To Help Protect Your Oral Health
Most people desire to keep their natural teeth for a lifetime. However, many people lose one or more teeth to dental decay or periodontal disease. Nevertheless, there are at-home measures that you can take to help protect your oral health. Here are a few of them.
Use an Oral Irrigator
An oral irrigator helps displace particles of food and deposits of plaque that are trapped between the teeth and along the gumline. The irrigator includes a wand that releases a stream of water, allowing the user to direct it at the desired site in the mouth. Additionally, there is a reservoir to hold the water that is being released through the wand.
Many people find oral irrigators easier to use than string floss. Thus, people who have suffered a loss of dexterity and young children may be able to keep their teeth much cleaner.
The formation of cavities between the teeth can also be eliminated. Without flossing, the avoidance of cavities in the interdental spaces can be difficult. The bristles of a toothbrush rarely reach deep enough into the spaces to fully clear that plaque and trapped food particles that may rest there.
Additionally, oral irrigators help remove debris from below the gumline. As a result, plaque that could irritate the gum tissues and incite periodontal inflammation is minimized.
Sip Water Throughout the Day
By sipping water throughout the day, you can lessen your chance of becoming dehydrated. Dehydration is associated with a reduced flow of saliva and can cause dry mouth.
The reduction in saliva within the oral cavity can allow bacterial acids to become more concentrated. These acids dissolve the enamel of the teeth to cause decay.
Water not only increases the amount of available saliva but also helps dilute acids that are present in the mouth. If you swish the water about the mouth before swallowing, you can help dislodge bits of food and debris to keep the mouth even cleaner.
Also, since tap water is often fluoridated, when you drink, you can expose the enamel to fluoride, which can help remineralize the teeth. Fluoride attracts displaced minerals back to the tooth surface and binds with them to form new tooth material. The new tooth material is actually less susceptible to damage from oral acids than the original enamel.
To learn more ways to preserve the health of your teeth and gums, schedule a consultation with a dentist service in your local area.