Have Teeth Like Pearls

Are you going to eat that red, juicy apple? 

Yes! Take a bite with your strong, white teeth and munch, crunch and chew till it is broken into small pieces, making it easy for you to swallow and digest it. 

Have you ever wondered about your teeth and the important role they play in your life?

Healthy teeth and gums are important for our overall health, eating, swallowing, smiling and even talking. Come on, let us take a look at your teeth and see if you are taking good care of them.

Enemy Attack

Bacteria are our teeth’s number one enemy but only when we keep the defences down. So you can say that actually it is our bad habits and poor food choices that are our teeth’s biggest enemy. Let us take a look at some of the most common teeth problems that we face.

Cavities:

When we eat, the bacteria in our mouth produce a sticky substance called plaque which covers our tooth enamel. If this plaque is not removed regularly by proper brushing, it coats our teeth. The acids then start to eat away the enamel and small holes called cavities begin to form.

Just like a drill which makes holes in wooden planks, the plaque keeps on eroding the enamel and the cavities get bigger and bigger till they reach the pulp where all the nerves are situated. You can get a massive toothache when that happens.

Halitosis:

Halitosis means bad breath. It can be a very embarrassing problem that also arises from bad dental hygiene. There can be many reasons for bad breath but the most common and easily preventable reason is left over food particles in your mouth that are left to decompose and cause bad smell.

Yellow teeth:

If you have yellow or discoloured teeth, you might not want to say “cheese” when your school photograph is being taken. Yellow teeth are caused when you do not brush your teeth properly or not long enough. Some drinks like tea, coffee, colas and candies with food colours can also give you discoloured teeth.

How to keep your teeth healthy

• To keep your teeth healthy, you must practice good oral habits. These habits are:
• Brush your teeth twice a day....first thing in the morning and before going to sleep at night.
• Brush the teeth after eating sweets, toffees, lollipops etc. or at least rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid snacking on sugary food stuffs and fizzy drinks that are harmful for the teeth

How to brush your teeth?

The best way to brush your teeth is in continuous circular motions till you clean every tooth in your mouth from the gum line to the biting edge of the teeth. Also brush up and down, rather than from side to side. Be extra careful of reaching your molars at the back. We often neglect to clean them because we are in a hurry to get ready for school or go to bed at night.

Dentists recommend that you should clean your teeth for at least 2 minutes. You can time yourself with a stopwatch or sing a song that is two minutes long while brushing. Brush your teeth gently and do not scrub them too hard or you might hurt your gums.

You do not need to use a great quantity of toothpaste every time you brush your teeth. Use a pea-size quantity but brush your teeth thoroughly. Also rinse your mouth afterwards to get all the residue out.  Gargle at the end to get rid of bacteria lurking at the back of your mouth.

Taking care of your tooth brush

It is equally important to take care of your tooth brush because it is the thing that does the cleaning in your mouth. If your tooth brush is dirty and germ-ridden, it can cause a lot of health problems for you. Use a tooth brush with gentle bristles and replace it every 3 months.

Do not leave your toothbrush lying around in the bathroom or on the floor. Try to buy those toothbrushes that come with caps. Clean the tooth brush with running water every time you use it and place the cap especially at night so that cockroaches do not spend the night in them.

Good Food for Strong Teeth:

Calcium and Vitamin D are essential for strong teeth and bones. Almonds, dairy products (milk, yoghurt, and cheese), apples, carrots, strawberries, citrus fruits and leafy green vegetables are good sources of important nutrients that keep your teeth and gums healthy. Also remember to drink plenty of water as it cleanses the mouth and helps to wash away trapped food particles.

Take good care of your pearly whites. They are worth it!!