Time and time again, we are being reminded of how important it is to take care of the teeth. As parents, we have years of experience of buil...
Time and time again, we are being reminded of how important it is to take care of the teeth. As parents, we have years of experience of building our personal confidence through education, good character and family upbringing. We also know that having a set of good, not necessarily perfect teeth, is very essential when dealing with other people, but also for our personal health and well-being.
So how do you teach your kids proper oral hygiene to be able to maintain good dental health? Show good example. Show them how you prioritize good oral hygiene by regularly performing these oral hygiene habits:
Brush your teeth daily
Brush your teeth at least twice a day—ideally in the morning after breakfast and in the evening before going to bed. Spend 2-3 minutes for brushing to make sure that your toothbrush reaches every corner of your mouth, including the teeth, gums and tongue.
Floss regularly
Use a floss to clean the tight spaces between your teeth and under the gumline, which are not reachable by toothbrush. If you find it hard to handle floss properly, use interdental cleaners, like special wooden or plastic pick, as an alternative.
Use mouthwash
Cosmetic and therapeutic mouthwash can help freshen your breath, especially after eating food or drinking liquids that have strong smell. Take note, however, that the effect of mouthwash is temporary and rinsing doesn’t treat the root cause of bad breath.
Take probiotics
Bad breath is often caused by poor digestion, which can be solved by cleaning out your gut to flush the toxins and bad bacteria away. Fermented food, like yogurt and kimchi, can help clean your digestive tract and smooth your digestion.
Eat food that are rich in vitamins and minerals
Get enough fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet, which are good source of vitamins and minerals that promote optimal oral health. Limit consumption of candies and other sweets, which contain too much sugar. The bacteria in your mouth convert the sugar to acid, which attacks your teeth’s enamel, leading to cavities and tooth decay.
Prevent teeth discoloration
Some people have natural yellowish teeth, but this is not an excuse to ignore unnatural teeth discoloration that is caused by poor dental hygiene and regular consumption of teeth-staining beverages, like tea, coffee and wine. You can use over-the-counter products, like bleach and whitening strips, to remove the stain and whiten your teeth. The safest way, however, is to let your dentist do the job.
Visit your dentist regularly
Schedule dental check-ups every six months but more often than that if you have dental problems. During a routine check-up, the dentist usually checks your teeth for cavities, signs of decay and gum problems. Your dentist or dental hygienist may also remove plaque build-up through oral prophylaxis (teeth cleaning).
The MediCard free-standing clinics (FSC) offer dental services. To see the list of MediCard FSC, visit www.medicardphils.com and schedule an appointment.
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| photo from www.smile4life.org.uk |
So how do you teach your kids proper oral hygiene to be able to maintain good dental health? Show good example. Show them how you prioritize good oral hygiene by regularly performing these oral hygiene habits:
Brush your teeth daily
Brush your teeth at least twice a day—ideally in the morning after breakfast and in the evening before going to bed. Spend 2-3 minutes for brushing to make sure that your toothbrush reaches every corner of your mouth, including the teeth, gums and tongue.
Floss regularly
Use a floss to clean the tight spaces between your teeth and under the gumline, which are not reachable by toothbrush. If you find it hard to handle floss properly, use interdental cleaners, like special wooden or plastic pick, as an alternative.
Use mouthwash
Cosmetic and therapeutic mouthwash can help freshen your breath, especially after eating food or drinking liquids that have strong smell. Take note, however, that the effect of mouthwash is temporary and rinsing doesn’t treat the root cause of bad breath.
Take probiotics
Bad breath is often caused by poor digestion, which can be solved by cleaning out your gut to flush the toxins and bad bacteria away. Fermented food, like yogurt and kimchi, can help clean your digestive tract and smooth your digestion.
Eat food that are rich in vitamins and minerals
Get enough fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet, which are good source of vitamins and minerals that promote optimal oral health. Limit consumption of candies and other sweets, which contain too much sugar. The bacteria in your mouth convert the sugar to acid, which attacks your teeth’s enamel, leading to cavities and tooth decay.
Prevent teeth discoloration
Some people have natural yellowish teeth, but this is not an excuse to ignore unnatural teeth discoloration that is caused by poor dental hygiene and regular consumption of teeth-staining beverages, like tea, coffee and wine. You can use over-the-counter products, like bleach and whitening strips, to remove the stain and whiten your teeth. The safest way, however, is to let your dentist do the job.
Visit your dentist regularly
Schedule dental check-ups every six months but more often than that if you have dental problems. During a routine check-up, the dentist usually checks your teeth for cavities, signs of decay and gum problems. Your dentist or dental hygienist may also remove plaque build-up through oral prophylaxis (teeth cleaning).
The MediCard free-standing clinics (FSC) offer dental services. To see the list of MediCard FSC, visit www.medicardphils.com and schedule an appointment.
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