Let’s be honest: Oral health and dental care can feel complicated and cumbersome. Sometimes, you do everything right, and you still face problems, like cavities and bleeding gums.
For today’s blog post, we want to break it down into six tips to help you achieve a healthy mouth.
Chances are, they’re simpler than you think!
1. Breathe out of your nose all the time.
Wait, what does your breathing have to do with oral health? When you breathe out of your mouth, you cause plaque to become dysbiotic, or toxic, in your mouth. When your plaque becomes acidic, the bad bacteria take over. To keep your mouth healthy, practice nasal breathing. This simple switch creates an environment of inhaled air that is moisturized, purified, warmed, and filtered.
2. Focus on your nutrition, especially your fiber intake.
It makes sense that nutrition plays a role in your oral hygiene. The macro- and micro-nutrients in our food are all important for growth, energy, and healing. In the same way, we need to feed the good bacteria in the gut flora. Fiber is particularly important here. You need around 25 grams daily to keep our gut healthy — which also contributes to up to 80 percent of your immune system. Remember: Your diet either feeds or fights disease. Eat for improved overall health, and your teeth will thank you!
3. Get enough sleep!
Much like nutrition, sleep is critical to your oral health. Aim for seven to eight hours each night to ensure your body has time to rest and heal. If you struggle to sleep enough, it may be related to your breathing, which, as you already know, impacts your dental care too! Talk to your dentist about possible solutions for improving your nightly shuteye.
4. Develop healthy stress management techniques.
Chronic stress has such a negative impact on your health: It prematurely ages you; it sends cortisol pumping through your body; and it decrease your gut flora diversity (which, as we mentioned above, weakens your immune system), to name a few. It may also cause you to grind your teeth, which can lead to a misaligned bite, TMJ, or even broken teeth. So show yourself some love by doing the things you love! Practice self-care by exercising, meditating, reading, journaling, and spending time with loved ones.
5. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
Like the rest of your body, your teeth need water. Their dentinal fluid system is a lot like a tree’s water system, nourishing your teeth from the inside out. Drink one or two glasses of water with each meal. Eat foods with water, like fruits and vegetables.
6. Pay attention to your chewing habits!
Finally, think about how you chew your food. Do you chew fast or slow? Do you chew each bite thoroughly or rush to swallow it? Does your bite feel aligned? Do you take big or small bites? If you feel like you can’t chew each bite thoroughly, talk to your dentist about possible causes, like crooked teeth, blocked sinuses, or swollen tonsils.
Follow these tips to achieve a healthy mouth before your next dentist appointment!
We hope you’ll choose Maitland Ave Smile Co. when it comes to your dental care!
Call us at 407.834.0330 to schedule your appointment today! Check out our Dental Blog to learn more about topics like restorative dentistry, dental anxiety, and more.