From Toothpaste to Chewing Gum, Learn What You Can Do to Improve Your Oral Hygiene
In the world of oral healthcare, innovation and unconventional strategies are paving the way for the maintenance of great dental health. Traditional brushing and flossing practices have been the foundation of dental hygiene, and while these methods remain effective and crucial, there’s much more to the story of maintaining good oral health.
Let’s dive into this topic with insights from Lakefront Family Dentistry, home to two of the most-referred dentists in Riverside County, California: Dr. Mark Phillipe, DDS, and Dr. Derek Hauser, DDS.
Your Own Role in Oral Care
At Lakefront Family Dentistry in Lake Elsinore, California, we advocate a responsible approach to your oral health. As leading dental professionals, Dr. Phillipe and Dr. Hauser understand that oral health extends beyond the traditional purview of twice-daily brushing and flossing. They emphasize the importance of considering all facets of lifestyle, diet, and even innovative practices to enhance oral health and prevent disease.
Beyond Toothpaste: Unconventional Tools for Oral Hygiene
While toothpaste serves as a mainstay in our daily dental routine, there are other tools available that offer supplementary support for maintaining oral hygiene. One such unconventional method is chewing sugar-free gum, which stimulates saliva production, effectively neutralizing harmful acids in the mouth that cause tooth decay.
Chewing gum isn’t a substitute for regular brushing and flossing, but it’s an effective measure in between meals and when you’re on the go. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after meals can help prevent tooth decay.
Diet and Oral Health: A Crucial Connection
Your diet plays a significant role in your oral health. For instance, foods rich in calcium and phosphorus like cheese, milk, and nuts, help remineralize teeth by replenishing the minerals lost to acidic foods and drinks. Similarly, crunchy fruits and vegetables, such as apples and carrots, can act as natural teeth cleaners, stimulating saliva production and dislodging food particles.
The Role of Hydration
Drinking water throughout the day is another effective, yet often overlooked, tool for oral health. Not only does it help rinse away food particles and neutralize acids, but it also aids in preventing dry mouth, which is a condition that can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease.
The Underestimated Power of Probiotics
Probiotics have been a buzzword in the health and wellness sphere for some time now, associated predominantly with gut health. However, an area less explored is the impact of probiotics on oral health.
Research has shown that introducing good bacteria, particularly strains like L. reuteri and L. rhamnosus, into your oral microbiome can be beneficial in managing oral health conditions such as periodontal disease, halitosis, and even dental caries. These friendly microbes compete with harmful bacteria, helping to keep your oral environment balanced and healthy.
Incorporating foods rich in probiotics, such as yogurt, sauerkraut, and other fermented foods into your diet, or even considering a probiotic supplement, could be a step towards improving your oral health.
The Advantages of Green Tea
Here’s a refreshing twist to your oral health routine: green tea. This universally loved beverage is packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that are beneficial to oral health.
Green tea contains catechins, compounds that kill bacteria in your mouth, reducing the risk of cavities and improving bad breath. Studies have also suggested that regular consumption of green tea may lower the risk of periodontal disease. However, it’s worth noting that green tea should ideally be consumed without sugar to prevent counterproductive effects.
Tongue Scraping: An Integral Part of Oral Hygiene
The tongue is often the overlooked component in a dental care routine. Tongue scrapers are designed to remove the buildup of bacteria, food particles, and dead cells from the surface of the tongue.
Regular use of a tongue scraper can help prevent bad breath (halitosis), enhance the sense of taste, and improve overall oral cleanliness. This small addition to your routine could reap significant benefits for your oral health.
Learn more about how your entire body is literally connected to your dental health.
The Lakefront Family Dentistry Experience
At Lakefront Family Dentistry, Dr. Mark Phillipe, DDS, and Dr. Derek Hauser, DDS, firmly believe in the power of patient education and empowering individuals to take charge of their oral health. While maintaining the highest standard of care within the office, they also strive to ensure that patients are well-equipped with a broader understanding of oral health and the tools available to them outside their beautiful private practice.
Under their care, patients are introduced to a wide array of practices that contribute to optimal dental health, beyond the familiar brushing and flossing. This includes discussions on the role of diet, probiotics, the benefits of green tea, and the importance of tongue scraping.
The dedicated team at Lakefront Family Dentistry, led by Dr. Phillipe and Dr. Hauser, consistently stays on the cutting edge of research and developments in the field. Their pursuit of excellence has made them the most-referred dentists in Riverside County, California. Remember to schedule your dental cleaning twice per year, so our registered dental hygienists can ensure your oral health is taken care of professionally.
Call (951) 244-9495 during business hours to schedule an appointment or fill out the Schedule an Appointment form through our website anytime of day or night.
