A Healthy Smile - Your Oral Health

While regular exercise and a balanced diet are essential for all-round good health and fitness, we must not forget to attend to keeping our mouths fit and healthy, too.

Human teeth come in four types: incisors at the front for cutting; canines next door for tearing and shredding; premolars for chewing; and, finally, molars at the back for a final chew before swallowing. So food travels from the front of the mouth to the back, becoming more chewed on the way. It is essential to look after all your teeth, not just the smiley ones at the front.

Many people do not know the most effective way of brushing. Choose a soft to medium brush, with rounded filaments. A harder brush is more likely to irritate or damage your gums. Hold the brush at a 45° angle to your teeth, and start with small, circular movements. Do this on both the outside and the inside of your teeth. Finally, brush along the cutting edge. Brushing your tongue will help to remove bacteria and keep your breath fresh. Teeth should be brushed for around two minutes at a time, twice a day.

Just as important as your teeth are the spaces in between. If you do not clean thoroughly between your teeth, plaque can build up, feeding on the minute food particles which remain, leading to gum disease. If plaque is left it can harden into tartar. It is important to remember that the most common cause of tooth decay and the need for dentures is unhealthy gums.

A good way to clean food from between the gums is by flossing. This is an extremely way of cleaning and caring for your gums. There are also interdental brushes on the market.

We are all built differently and the above procedures may not be enough to keep your smile healthy. This is why regular visits to the dentist are essential, as a professional will be able to spot future problems. Accidents do happen, however careful we are with our teeth, so it is wise to take out dental insurance to guard against any unforeseen events.