Sure, your regular brushing, flossing and rinsing routine is good for a healthy mouth, but there's more to a total oral fix than that. There are more problem areas you need to look at.
1. Cavities
Problem spot: Between your back teeth (top and bottom).
Reason: That's the area where you do most of your chewing.
Quick fix: Instead of a straight up-and-down motion when you are flossing your teeth, wrap the floss around each tooth, slide it under the gum and then floss like you would shine a shoe. Just be careful not to hurt your gums as you do it (red-coloured floss is a sure-fire giveaway).
2. Oral cancer
Problem spot: Your tongue.
Reason: Its location makes it more susceptible to toxins such as cigarette smoke.
Quick fix: Ban smoke from your body and eat more avocados. Researchers at Ohio State University in the US have found that chemical compounds in avocados may reduce the risk of oral cancer.
3. Canker sores
Problem spot: The inside of your bottom lip.
Reason: Nervous lip biting may trigger canker sores, but the cause is usually viral.
Quick fix: Use any brand of toothpaste that has benzocaine in it.
4. Receding gums
Problem spot: The gum that surrounds both your top left canine tooth and the premolar behind it.
Reason: The top canines are your most prominent teeth, so they take extra abuse from brushing. (Righties will do more harm to the left tooth.)
Quick fix: Brush gently and in only one direction-from the gum down to the bottom of the tooth.
5. Plaque
Problem spot: The two bottom teeth in the front and centre.
Reason: They're closest to your salivary glands and a protein in your saliva has been shown to promote the buildup of plaque.
No comments:
Post a Comment