Dr. Suresh

Ever increasing temperature during summers make it very essential to be hydrated with lots of fluids taken in a frequent interval. Proper hydration not only helps general health, it also helps the oral health by maintaining right moisture in the mouth. Natural juices like tender coconut, buttermilk, lassi etc make good choices while carbonated drinks should be avoided.

  10 Tips to Maintain Healthy Teeth :

“Be true to your teeth, they won’t be false to you.”

1. Brushing :

• Brush your teeth twice a day.
• Night brushing is very important, because during sleep our mouth is at rest so there are more chances of accumulation of bacteria which cause further cavities and leads to disturbance in the oral cavity.
•  Follow a proper brushing technique.

    2. Use a good fluoridated toothpaste with a right toothbrush. Toothpaste should have 1000ppm of fluoride and toothbrush should have a small and narrow head with soft bristles.

    3. Flossing :

• Flossing helps to remove food stuck in between your teeth.
• It can be done daily or 2-3 times a week.
• Waxed dental flosses available in market are of Oral B, Colgate.

    4. Interdental Brush:

• If the spaces between the teeth are wide, you can use an interdental brush.                                                                                                  

    5. Oral Irrigation:

• Now-a-days, a new dental aid is added which helps to clean the teeth, interdental areas, inside the gums and below the crowns more easily.
• It is also known as dental “Water flosser” or “Oral irrigator” available in brands like waterpik, panasonic etc. 

    6.  Drink plenty of water and rinse after every meal.  

    7. Clean your tongue surface daily.

    8. Pit and Fissure Sealants:

• The grinding teeth in a person mouth erupt at 12-16 years of age. They have deep grooves and pits in which food gets stuck. A Sealant is applied to these teeth which makes the grooves shallow and prevents food and bacteria from getting into the teeth and causing decay

    9 .Whitening - Home Remedies :

• Add a pinch of baking soda in drinking water and rinse twice a day.
•  Consume strawberries once a day or crushed strawberries applied to teeth helps as teeth whitener.

    10.Visit your dentist every 6 months and get your scaling (cleaning) and polishing  done.

     Dr. Puja Bansal - Prudent International Health Clinic, Kalyani nagar,  Pune.