I have always been an avid hockey player, and my love took a bad turn one day when I got struck in the mouth with the puck. It was a painful moment that left me with two teeth knocked out of my mouth. Had I taken the right steps after the accident, I could have possibly saved the teeth, but I did not know I had that option at the time. Thankfully, I worked up the courage to visit a dentist and ask what my options for teeth-replacement were. I was worried I would would have to live the rest of my life without smiling, but I was ecstatic to learn that I was the perfect candidate for dental implants. I created this blog to help others realize that there are so many options to replace missing teeth today that no one has to "just live with" an imperfect smile!
Keeping your teeth clean is imperative to your dental health. Oral bacteria within your mouth excrete acid after feeding on carbohydrates within the mouth. This acid is damaging to your tooth enamel, dissolving it to incite tooth decay. However, you may feel that there is little you can do to keep your teeth clean when you are away from home. After all, there may be no toothbrush or toothpaste at your disposal.
Thankfully, there are ways to clean your teeth effectively even when a toothbrush is no where around. Here are a few of them:
Antibacterial Mouth Rinse
It may be easy to carry a small container of antibacterial mouth rinse in your pocket or purse. After eating, you can quickly rinse with the specialized mouthwash to help flush particles of food from your teeth and kill oral bacteria.
Many antibacterial mouth rinses include antimicrobial substances, such as alcohol or chlorhexidine. However, alcohol-based rinses are best avoided, because the alcohol dries out the mouth, and dry mouth can actually increase the bacterial population in the mouth.
Chlorhexidine is still quite effective at killing bacteria without drying the soft tissues of your mouth. Additionally, mouthwashes that contain hydrogen peroxide are also effective. Not only do these rinses kill germs, but they also help whiten the teeth.
Chewing Gum
Chewing gum can also help clean your mouth without the aid of a toothbrush. The gum is generally sticky, so it can pull leftover food and plaque from the teeth. Additionally, the chewing motion promotes the release of saliva to help dilute oral acids and rinse the mouth.
Many varieties of sugarless gum may be sweetened with xylitol, which is a natural substance that is antimicrobial. It helps prevent bacteria from adhering to the teeth.
Also, natural flavorings, such as cinnamon can be antibacterial due to the cinnemaldehydes within the gum. Cinnamon is especially helpful at reducing the amount of germs in the mouth that cause bad breath.
For the greatest impact, chew gum immediately after snacks and meals. This can help eliminate bacteria and their food sources before large amounts of oral acid are released. Still, gum can be chewed and enjoyed throughout the day.
The measures that you take when you are away from home can greatly affect your overall dental health. To learn more things that you can do to keep your mouth clean when a toothbrush and paste are not handy, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your area, like those at Crystal Dental Care.
Share28 October 2016
