The health of your teeth and gums has a lot of effect on your overall state of health, and it is also a reflection of your general health. In general practice, we see patients who are extremely careful over choosing only the healthiest foods to eat, still they have lot of dental issues. This article focuses how day to day routine can affect oral health. The best thing about this information, is that most of this can be turned around with a change in certain habits.
You have control over reducing your risk and improving your oral health. Sometimes it can leave you more at risk of horrible diseases like oral cancer and there have also been studies linking gum issues with things like strokes, pregnancy problems and heart disease. Various habits will affect your oral health in different ways.
Sugar:
Having a high sugar diet will definitely affect your teeth, no matter how well you brush them. Sugar is the main cause of tooth decay. Bacteria in mouth converts sugar into acids, acids eat removes the surface of a tooth, attacking the enamel, weakening the tooth and causing decay in the form of holes or cavities. It will also add to potential gum issues.
The more sugar you consume, the more food you’re giving bacteria to feed on which contributes to tooth decay via the acids they create. Sugar is present in almost all food items. The primary sugar culprits are soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit juices, energy drinks, flavoured milk and some processed foods. As a general rule, ensure you know what you are consuming; drink soft drinks in moderation, if at all possible, drink through a straw, use fluoride toothpaste and rinse with water or mouthwash regularly.
Smoking:
Smoking and using tobacco products can cause gum disease, contribute to tooth decay and actually cause oral cancer. 60% oral cancer are due to smoking habits. Smokers are six times more likely than non-smokers to develop these cancers. Smoking or more specifically the nicotine and tar in cigarettes can stain your teeth. Smoking can also lead to gum disease as smoking causes a buildup of bacteria. A lack of oxygen in the blood stream restricts the ability of the gums to heal naturally.
Alcohol:
Drinking alcohol dehydrates the mouth, which means saliva is unable to flush away any bacteria entering the mouth. Alcohol addictions may also prevent a person from maintaining excellent oral hygiene regimens. People who suffer from alcohol dependency tend to have higher plaque levels on their teeth and are three times as likely to suffer from permanent tooth loss.
Medication:
Certain medications contain ingredients which will affect oral health. Some can give patients dry mouth, whereas others might cause staining.
Other Bad Habits:
There are a number of habits that can affect your mouth, teeth and gums. Nail biting, brushing your teeth too hard, overload of acidic foods and crunching down on an ice cube could all be eating away at the enamel on your teeth. There are plenty of nail biters out there and most of do it subconsciously. This is also the case for people who seem to think their teeth are a part of their toolkit
Drinking coffee:
Its colour and acidity can stain teeth or put yellow. Again, brush teeth often to prevent staining and keep enamel from deteriorating. Eating fries package the starch containing becomes acid, and this acid can attack the teeth for up to 20 minutes. If you eat, try to brush your teeth and floss as soon as possible. Cut the thread with teeth Lot of people are there who do this. It can destroy enamel layer of your teeth.
Teeth grinding:
This can start wearing the surface of the teeth and may even loosen. It also affects the jaw joint. Book an appointment with your dentist. You may need a night guard.
Nail Biting:
Besides not being hygienic, and making your fingers look bad, in fact, your hands look ugly, this habit increases the chances of you to suffer from bruxism.
Biting pencils:
This is not new. So, if you often bite pencils when you concentrate, studying or working, it may be the right time to: Stop. You can fracture teeth.
Aside from thorough brushing, flossing and regular check ups with your dentist, the following can all help to keep your mouth healthy. Make sure you are consuming adequate vitamin C. Vitamin C is found in fresh, raw fruits and vegetable. Minimise or avoid consuming acidic beverages. Fruit juice, soft drinks and sports drinks can all wear away your tooth enamel, leaving your teeth more exposed and vulnerable. Even diet soft drinks are harmful due to the acids they contain. Try to keep your blood sugar in the healthy range. Diabetics are prone to suffering with severe gum disease Xylitol and coconut oil both inhibit bad bacteria from growing in your mouth. They are both easily incorporated into your diet. All such home remedies can keep you healthy.