Wednesday, February 25, 2009

How to Maintain a Healthy Mouth and Gums

By Ricardo Marks

It is very important for every individual to take care of the oral hygiene throughout his life, because the cure for this is not only very costly but quite painful as well. Whilst the majority of people are aware of the need to brush their teeth twice a day, there are several other routines that need to be followed in order to have the best possible oral hygiene. A healthy oral routine is not only for the teeth, but for the gums as well. It is therefore important to do more than just brush your teeth and floss. In addition, you must also visit your dentist on a regular basis.

Firstly it is recommended is that you take a supplement for Vitamin C and other key nutrients. Vitamin C not only keeps the tissues healthy, but is also important for healthy gums. People who do not take enough Vitamin C will suffer from gingivitis. The best way of getting Vitamin C is through your diet, but make sure you do not do this by drinking a lots of sweet juices or citrus fruits, as these would harm your teeth.

Another supplement that should be taken is Coenzyme Q10, which is found naturally in the body and helps cell function. However, as a number of people have lower levels of this and some medications will have an effect on the production of this enzyme, so it is a good idea to take supplements for healthy gums. Currently this supplement is also available in toothpaste.

A herb named Horsetail, containing silica, helps to absorb minerals in the body. This helps the body by allowing all the supplements you take to get absorbed into the body. If it is taken with calcium it would help your teeth to stay strong. You must use a mouthwash together with Hydrogen Peroxide to decrease bacteria in your mouth. Use a 3% solution of mouthwash and mix it with equal parts of water before using.

You can also try Ayurvedic therapies, such as oil pulling to help maintain oral hygiene. The way to do this is to take one tablespoon of sesame oil or sunflower oil (cold pressed) and put it into your mouth before eating or drinking anything when you wake up in the morning. Swirl it around in your mouth for a quarter of an hour and spit it out when the oil gets watery. This removes the toxins from the tissues and cleans your mouth and gums. Furthermore, it also helps in the whitening of your teeth.

It is recommended that visit your dentist half yearly and check with him/her before taking any supplements. Both brushing and flossing are considered to be very important parts of your oral hygiene routine, so make sure you spend good amount on floss and a high quality electric toothbrush which would be helpful in cleaning your teeth better than the normal ones. You can also use a dental pick which is particularly designed to clean between your teeth. If you have difficulty cleaning your teeth, you can use an oral irrigator that directs a stream of water to your teeth to get rid of food particles.

Make sure you call your dentist if you have swollen or red gums, bleeding from your gums, or if your gums start pulling away from your teeth. Any pus around your teeth, a bad taste in your mouth, or loose teeth are all reasons to go to a dentist immediately.

Oral healthcare is as important as our physical health. So, make sure in order to protect your smile you follow the suggestions given above. - 14130

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