Your teeth and gums are more than tools for eating; they're indicators of our overall health. A rigorous oral hygiene routine with daily brushing and flossing form the baseline for healthy teeth, but they're just a piece of the puzzle. 

The cornerstone of oral health lies in the world of nutrition and conscious dietary choices. And it’s one of the best ways to be happy and well!

To support you in this journey to stronger, healthier teeth, we've crafted a guide profiling seven exhaustive methods to naturally improve oral health and potentially avert painful cavities and decay, and expensive dentist bills!

Let’s get into it.

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#1 - Watch What You Eat

Your diet plays a critical role in maintaining good dental health. The foods and drinks you consume can either promote strong teeth and gums or contribute to cavities, gum disease, and other dental issues. Hence, making informed dietary choices is essential in preserving your oral health.

Foods to consume and avoid for good dental health

✅ Consume:

• Calcium-rich foods like dairy products, leafy greens, and fortified non-dairy milks help strengthen tooth enamel.
• Fruit and vegetables high in fiber, such as apples, carrots, and celery, stimulate saliva production that naturally cleans teeth.
• Lean proteins from sources like fish, chicken, and legumes are rich in phosphorus, which contributes to stronger teeth and supports oral health.
• Green and black teas contain polyphenols, which help suppress bacteria growth and reduce plaque accumulation.

❌ Avoid:

• Sugary foods and drinks like candy, soda, and fruit juices contribute to tooth decay by promoting plaque buildup.
• Acidic foods and beverages such as citrus fruits, coffee, and cola can weaken tooth enamel over time.
• Sticky foods such as dried fruits and some types of candy stick to teeth, promote plaque buildup and lead to cavities.
• Processed carbohydrates like white bread and chips are easily broken down into sugar, which feeds harmful bacteria in your mouth.

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#2 - Stay Hydrated

Stay hydrated is essential for maintaining good oral health. 

Drinking water regularly not only helps maintain overall bodily functions but also plays a vital role in maintaining the balance of bacteria within your mouth, preventing dry mouth, and promoting good oral hygiene.

The average suggested water intake is 3.7 liters a day for men and 2.7 liters a day for women.

Benefits of water on teeth and gums

• Rinsing: Drinking water after a meal is an effective way to rinse away leftover food particles and dilute any acids produced due to bacterial activity.
• Saliva production: Drinking water supports saliva production, which is crucial in neutralizing acids, washing away food debris, and maintaining oral health.
• Preventing dry mouth: Staying hydrated helps prevent dry mouth, a condition that can promote cavities and bad breath.
• Fluoride benefits: Drinking fluoridated tap water can help improve dental health by strengthening enamel, preventing tooth decay, and diminishing the likelihood of cavities.

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#3 - Regular Brushing and Flossing

In the realm of oral health, regular brushing and flossing hold the fort. These ensure that your teeth are clear from the daily accumulation of plaque, the primary cause of cavities and gum disease. 

These simple daily rituals safeguard your mouth from harmful, decay-inducing bacteria.

Techniques and Timing of Brushing

Brushing your teeth twice-a-day for a full two minutes is the broad recommendation. Here are some brushing pointers:

• Angle: Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to your gums.
• Motion: Use short, gentle back-and-forth strokes.
• Coverage: Brush all surfaces—outer, inner, and chewing surfaces.
• Moreover, nighttime brushing is critical as it cleans your mouth ahead of decreased saliva production (and increased bacterial growth) during sleep.

Flossing, often overlooked, is equally important. It removes food and plaque lodged between your teeth and along the gumline where your toothbrush can't reach. Aim to floss at least once a day preferably before brushing at night.

Check out this video tips on How to Brush Your Teeth:

Contrary to what some might believe, chewing sugarless gum can be beneficial for your dental health. 

Doing so after meals stimulates saliva production, which helps neutralize and wash away the acids that are produced when food is broken down by the bacteria in plaque on your teeth.

How It Contributes to Oral Hygiene

Chewing gum, particularly those with Xylitol, can:

• Reduce tooth decay: Xylitol inhibits the growth of oral bacteria that cause cavities.
• Increase salivary flow: Chewing gum promotes saliva production, which neutralizes acids and aids in mineralizing teeth.
• Prevent dry mouth: Gum chewing also fights dry mouth by inducing saliva production.
• Remove food particles: The sticky base of gum can remove food particles trapped between the teeth, which contributes to better oral hygiene.

Just remember, while sugarless gum can assist dental health, it's no substitute for brushing and flossing.

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#6 - Say No to Smoking and Tobacco

This is a well-known fact that’s widely reported, but if you’re still smoking, now is the time to stop. 

Smoking and tobacco use pose a significant threat to oral health. They are major risk factors for periodontal (gum) disease, tooth loss, oral cancer, and put a severe damper on oral aesthetics causing teeth staining, bad breath, and a decrease in the sense of taste and smell.

Encouragement and Tips to Quit

Quitting smoking or tobacco products can significantly reduce these risks. Here are some tips to aid the cessation process:

• Get professional help: This could involve counseling, medication, and/or behavioral therapies that help you break the addiction.
• Stay active: Physical activities can help you distract your mind from cravings.
• Build a support network: Surround yourself with people who can encourage you and help you get through tough times.
• Use quit aids: Over-the-counter products like gum, patches, and lozenges can make quit attempts more successful.

By quitting smoking, apart from a plethora of health benefits, you're safeguarding that precious smile of yours.

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#7 - Regular Dentist Visits and Preventative Care

At the end of the day, the condition of your teeth are different from the next person. 

Therefore, the only way to really know how well your teeth are looked after and identify what problems you need to address is by getting a professional to look you over.

Regular dentist visits not only help diagnose and treat oral issues at their early stages but also help maintain the overall health of your gums and teeth. A routine check-up every six months is beneficial in preventing oral diseases and other related health issues.

That said, if you don’t have access to a dentist for whatever reason, then you’re going to need to focus on the other approaches listed in this post. Perhaps the bills are too high or there’s no availability in your local area.

It’s a problem of the modern world, but one you can overcome by looking after yourself and using the solutions that are available to you, like making good food choices and making the most of probiotic solutions.

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Conclusion

Making informed food choices, maintaining hydration, practicing consistent oral hygiene, using probiotics like ProDentim, chewing sugarless gum, abstaining from smoking and tobacco, and regularly visiting the dentist are all beneficial steps in the journey to not just a healthier mouth, but a healthier you.

Each of these steps contributes to your dental health in unique ways, interacting and intertwining to provide a comprehensive strategy for maintaining stellar oral health. 

We encourage you to adapt these habits and practices, because nothing brightens up your day or your appearance more than a healthy, radiant smile.

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References:

American Dental Association. (2021). MouthHealthy - Oral Health. Retrieved from https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/

Mayo Clinic. (2019). Oral Health: A Window to Your Overall Health. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475

World Health Organization. (2018). Oral Health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health

The Tooth-Gum-Body Connection. WebMB - Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/oral-health-the-mouth-body-connection

Univeristy of Rochester Medical Center. The Best and Worst Foods for Your Teeth. Retrieved from https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=4062

Effects of Xylitol on Oral Health. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32638045/#:~:text=Xylitol%20can%20reduce%20constipation%2C%20diabetes,when%20consumed%20in%20excessive%20amounts.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Smoking and Gum Disease. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/periodontal-gum-disease.html

HealthPartners. Importance of Dental Checkups and Cleanings. Retrieved from https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/dental-preventive-visit/#:~:text=Regular%20preventive%20dental%20checkups%20are,problems%20can%20bring%20with%20them.

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#4 - Incorporate Probiotic Support with ProDentim

Probiotics support is not merely limited to your gut. Instead, giving your body what it needs to perform optimally is one of the best focuses you can have in your life, and oral health is no exception.

Solutions like ProDentim are designed explicitly for oral health, transforming how we protect and enhance our dental hygiene. In some cases, they may even fix teeth without a dentist!

Benefits of using ProDentim for Oral Health

• ProDentim harnesses the power of beneficial bacteria to fight against harmful dental pathogens, thereby promoting oral health. The benefits range from:
• Reducing plaque: ProDentim competes with harmful bacteria for space and nutrients, reducing plaque build-up.
• Fighting bad breath: By suppressing the growth of harmful bacteria, ProDentim aids in maintaining fresh breath.
• Preventing tooth decay: By targeting decay-causing bacteria, ProDentim helps prevent tooth decay.

How ProDentim Works

By colonizing your mouth, ProDentim works at balancing the bacterial ecosystem within it. This balance aids in neutralizing harmful acids, curbing inflammation, and indirectly supporting gum tissue health. When used consistently, ProDentim could be an effective addition to your oral health regimen.

Through regular brushing, flossing, and the addition of ProDentim to your routine, your journey towards stronger teeth and healthier gums is set on a secure path.

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#5 - Chew Sugarless Gum