Every year on March 20th, World Oral Health Day is commemorated all around the world and the theme for this year is “Be Proud of your Mouth’. It is a special day set apart to create awareness on the importance of oral health while advocating for better oral health practices by every individual across the world. Being proud of your mouth begins with making resolutions that ensure that you can be pleased with the state of your mouth and oral health while preventing oral diseases.
Oral health is an essential part of one’s general health as many individuals around the world suffer from preventable oral diseases which lead to pain and unnecessary absences from school and work. Celebrating World Oral Health Day is an avenue to create awareness about these health concerns, stir up a desire for better oral health among the population and to promote a healthier society.
In recognition of World Oral Health Day 2023, here are 5 changes you can make to help you achieve the smile you can be pleased with:
1. Brush and floss daily: Brushing twice daily with a fluoride containing toothpaste and flossing regularly is essential to the maintenance of good oral hygiene and clean teeth. Adopting appropriate tooth brushing techniques also contributes to a healthier mouth. It is important that you change your toothbrush every 3 months and use fluoride containing toothpastes to prevent cavities.
2. Consider adding a mouthwash to your oral hygiene routine: The use of Mouthwash has been found to be beneficial to one’s oral health; this is especially true for those with antibacterial properties. For example, mouthwashes which contains Chlorhexidine has been found to be effective against gum disease and mouth odor. You may wish to get more information from your dentist on what mouthwash is best for you as well as directions for use. Mouthwashes should complement rather than replace brushing your teeth.
3. Adopt a healthy and balanced diet: Vitamin rich and healthy meals are not only beneficial to your body, they go a long way in improving the state of your mouth and dentition. Foods rich in calcium and phosphorous strengthen your teeth and protect them from external elements that can cause holes/cavities. It is important that you limit the intake of foods that contain sugars and acids to reduce the damaging effects on your teeth as a result of erosion.
4. Make time for regular dental check ups: The importance of visiting a dental clinic regularly can not be overemphasized. The commonest oral diseases are preventable and can be easily managed in the early stages. However, advanced dental diseases are more costly to manage and are associated with a higher risk of long term damage or loss. Prioritize your health and save money by visiting a dentist today.
5. Quit Smoking: Smoking undermines your immune system and makes it more difficult for your body to fight infections including gum disease. Smoking also causes discoloration of the teeth as well as mouth odor and has been linked to Oral cancers. You can read more here.
Practicing good oral habits are the first determinants of good oral health. Having a mouth you can be proud of starts from the practices you adopt and making the right choice for your health has far reaching benefits. Value and respect your oral health as it has an impact on your overall health, self esteem and physical appearance.
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