1. Reduce your sugar intake. When the bacteria in your mouth break down
sugars, it produces acids which dissolve the protective enamel coating
on your teeth. This makes your teeth more vulnerable to decayYou can
limit you sugar intake by:
a. Not eating desserts like candy, chocolate, cakes, ice cream, pastries
b. Not adding sugar to your tea or coffee
c. Eating low sugar breakfast cereals
d. Avoiding sugary sodas and soft drinks
e. Drinking only one glass of fruit juice per day. Even unsweetened fruit juice is sugary.
2. Brush
for at least two minutes. Do this in the morning and at night before
you go to sleep. The most important thing in maintaining a good oral
hygiene is to adopt the correct brushing technique. Ask your dentist or
hygienist to teach you how to correctly use the toothbrush and how to
apply it to your gums and teeth.
Brush with a soft bristled brush or
an electric toothbrush. Brush all the surfaces of each tooth, including
the chewing surface, the back and the front.
Replace your toothbrush
every three months. If you use an electric toothbrush, you should also
replace the head every three months.
It also never hurts to brush your teeth in the middle of the day.
Wait
about 30 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth. After you
eat, the acid produced by the food in your mouth causes your enamel to
soften. Immediately after eating you can rinse your mouth with water,
then after 30 minutes, you can brush.
Children should brush their baby teeth both to prevent cavities and to learn good oral hygiene habits.
3. Drink extra water. Water will help prevent food from getting stuck in your teeth.[20][21]
If
your mouth is dry, you are probably not drinking enough water. The
quantity of water you need will vary daily based on the weather, your
activity level, and the proper functioning of your salivary glands.
The first sign of dehydration is thirst. So if you are thirsty, help yourself to a tall glass of water.