Tips for a sweet, healthy mouth
Many of us spend so much time, effort, and money on hair styles, makeup, clothes, accessories, colognes, and beauty promises in little bottles yet we neglect to take care of one of the most important parts of the human body – the mouth. Oral maintenance is where most people fail because of ignorance, bad habits, or plain laziness. Most of us overlook our mouths thinking that once it is closed, everything unpleasant within would be out of sight and hidden from scrutiny.Not so. After the eyes, the mouth is the next thing people notice especially when you smile and begin to talk. The mouth is so important because it is the gateway that receives food, drinks, and even air into your inner organs, and it’s the cavity wherein you shape your words and throw your speech.No designer stuff could mask bad teeth, unhealthy gums, and offensive breath. Nothing replaces proper oral care in keeping your mouth healthy and your breath sweet.
• Take care of your lips. Dry, chapped lips are unattractive and certainly not nice to kiss. For soft and tender lips, use a lip balm or moisturizer. Taking care of your lips helps prevent those unsightly lip creases where lipstick “bleeds” in your later years.
• After eating, use a toothpick and gargle with water. Food particles lodged between the teeth and gums should be gently removed with a fine wooden toothpick. If not removed, these will decompose and trigger tooth decay and bad breath. Gargle at least three times, pushing the water through the teeth to dislodge smaller food particles.
• Floss regularly. What is better than toothpick? Dental floss because it is made of fibers that can bend and lift food particles from hard-to-reach areas. Since floss is like thread, it won’t widen gaps between teeth like toothpicks do. Flossing should be part of your daily oral health routine.
• Brush your teeth properly. Many people brush their teeth the wrong way, hurrying through the process without thoroughly cleaning the teeth. Soft nylon brushes with rounded bristles are better; hard brushes tend to hurt the gums and do more harm than good.To brush properly, wiggle the brush left and right, back and forth, and up and down with firm strokes to vibrate food particles and plaque out. Do not push the gums up or down too much and expose the sensitive base of the teeth. Air your toothbrush; don’t keep it in an airtight plastic case which will encourage bacteria growth. When the bristles start to soften and bend, get a new toothbrush. You may brush your tongue, too. Avoid going to sleep without brushing.
• Use a tongue scraper. Most of the odor coming from the mouth emanates from microscopic, decaying food particles caught on the tongue’s surface. Use a gentle plastic tongue scraper for a cleaner, healthier tongue and fresher breath.
• Drink with a straw. Use a straw when drinking colored beverages like tea and cola which tend to discolor the teeth. That way, the liquid will have minimum contact with the teeth, preventing ugly stains which darken through the years.
• Gargle with a mouthwash. A mouthwash or oral rinse can help subdue bacteria that cause bad breath. Most commercial preparations can take away the taste of bitterness in the mouth and prevent unpleasant morning breath.
• Use a dental instrument or cotton buds to dislodge stubborn plaque. Brushing alone cannot eradicate thick plaque build-up. A dental instrument made of stainless steel (ask your dentist about it) can rid your teeth of those yellowish deposits effectively. Use it gently and never hurt your gums or over-scratch your tooth enamel. Cotton buds work well on thin plaque, too.
• Control your tobacco, alcohol, coffee, soda pop, commercial fruit juice, and sugar intake. The first three leave a distinct odor in the mouth and may stain teeth, while sodas and commercially prepared juices have outrageous sugar content that can harm teeth. Garlic, onions and other strong spices can contribute to nauseating breath.
• Be careful about highly abrasive toothpastes and tooth whiteners. Realize that teeth are not white; they are various shades of yellow. Be careful with very abrasive toothpastes and strong tooth bleach preparations which can weaken teeth and increase tooth sensitivity.
• To quickly freshen up your breath, chew on a mint candy or gum. If you feel that your saliva has become thick, and if you have post-nasal drip or phlegm, suck on a cough lozenge to alleviate the accompanying unpleasant feeling. Sugar-free products are preferable.
• Consult a professional. In case of oral, throat, and respiratory problems, visit your doctor or dentist for preventive maintenance and cure. Most tooth, gum, and throat diseases are best treated during their early stage.
• And for extra beautiful mouth and lips, smile and speak words of goodness, kindness, and love. A smile always lights up your face, making you look more beautiful. Rude words, vile criticism, and badmouthing are as detestable as foul breath. Carefully choose the words you utter to project a more attractive, likeable, and lovable you.
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