When it comes to the health of your mouth, it’s tied to the health of a lot of other parts of your body, too. Your digestive system, respiratory system, olfactory system an inner ear structures all interact with your mouth in some way. Just like smoking tobacco hurts your teeth as well as your lungs, eating a ton of sugar hurts your teeth andyour skin, arteries and heart. So, yeah, there are specific things you should do to take care of your teeth, but many of the good habits that keep your mouth healthy are also habits that keep your whole body healthy. Here’s some tips on how to keep your mouth healthy so you don’t have to worry about needing tooth replacement, root canals, dental implants or other mouth surgeries. Preventative care is a lot less painful and a lot less expensive than tooth decay, gum disease and jaw damage.
10 Ways to Prevent Needing Oral Surgery or Tooth Replacement
1. Brush your teeth – the right way.
You should brush your teeth every day, especially before bed. Use toothpaste with fluoride. Use circular motions. Be thorough, but don’t brush too hard. And don’t forget your tongue! Bacteria builds up there, too.
2. Stay hydrated.
Making sure you’re always hydrated has benefits for literally every part of your body. Skin health, joint lubrication, brain function and blood flow all improve when you’re properly hydrated. And as far as your mouth goes, regularly drinking water throughout the day prevents dry mouth and bacteria buildup.
3. Keep regular dental appointments.
Getting your teeth cleaned regularly is obviously good for them. But seeing your dentist regularly also means that you’ll catch issues like oral cancer, gum disease, cavities or tooth decay early on. You can prevent further damage and get the healthcare you need before small problems become big.
4. Floss once a day.
Flossing regularly prevents bacteria and plaque buildup between your teeth, and also gets sneaky debris away from your gum line.
5. Stop smoking, y’all.
It’s 2021. Tobacco, in all its forms, is terrible for you; that news is old hat. Smoking, vaping or chewing – all these things can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, mouth or jaw cancer, lung cancer, heart disease, organ failure – the list of health complications is insane. Just stay away from tobacco and nicotine.
6. Chill out on the sugar.
Eating too much sugar or sugary acids like citric acid is bad for not only your teeth, but your insulin levels and your arteries. Instead of soda, grab a seltzer water. Limit acidic fruits and candy. And when you do partake in a craving for sweets, flush with a lot of water after. But don’t necessarily brush your teeth immediately. Acids weaken your enamel, so brushing aggressively right after downing a Coke isn’t actually the best course of action.
7. Eat crunchy vegetables.
Not only are vegetables good for you – eyes, liver, skin, digestion – all these things benefit from eating your veggies. But crunchy vegetables also strengthen your jaw. So we recommend starting on crunchy veggies early on in life so you grow a strong and healthy jaw. The better your jaw health, the less likely you’ll have tooth loss later on in life.
8. Get yourself a fancy toothbrush.
There’s a reason your dentist doesn’t brush your teeth manually when you go in for your cleanings. Get an electric toothbrush, and make sure to switch the head out every 3 months or so.
If you keep consistent on these habits and upgrade your toothbrush, we guarantee you’ll see an improvement in the health of your mouth.
