Seven habits to help keep your teeth healthy

Not only does a radiant smile make you look gorgeous, but it also indicates that you are at the top of your health. But you can do a lot of good to your teeth by keeping a few simple tips in mind.

Not only does a radiant smile make you look gorgeous, but it also indicates that you are at the top of your health. But, surprisingly, very few people take dental hygiene seriously, and most of the time, dental issues are overlooked until a visit to the dentist is inevitable. But you can do a lot of good to your teeth by keeping a few simple tips in mind. 1 Mind what you eat

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If you are addicted to chocolate, have a lot of rich, spicy gravies, drink a lot of red wine and black tea, chew ­tobacco, paan or smoke, your teeth will end up getting stained. Give up your bad ­eating habits, and make sure you brush your teeth immediately after having food and drinks that stain your teeth. Cut down on acidic fluids such as aerated drinks and packaged soft drinks. Food acids dissolve the minerals in your tooth enamel, which lead to pits and cavities. Also avoid gummy ­candies that stick to your tooth.

3 Be gentle
If you use force to remove plaque, you will end up damaging your tooth enamel. Place your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle against your gums and move it in a circular motion gently, instead of a back-and-forth motion. Also, change your toothbrush every three months. Using the same toothbrush for a long time makes bristles harsh, which may hurt your gums.

4 Have a cup of tea every day
The compounds in black tea also kill bacteria that cause gum diseases. But make sure you have tea without sugar, or use a healthy sweetener. Cutting down on sugar helps stop build up of oral plaque that leads to bleeding gums and tooth decay. The acid in refined sugar also erodes tooth enamel.

5 Be kind to your teeth
Teeth are meant for chewing food. They are not tools to help you open bottles or tear packets. Also, don’t chew on food that is meant to be sucked at. And don’t bite into hard food items such as candy or ice, as it could fracture your tooth enamel, resulting in cracks.

6 Go for alcohol-free mouthwash
Pick up a mouthwash that is alcohol-free. Most mouthwashes that you buy off the shelves have too much alcohol, which dries out your mouth tissue, making you prone to bacteria. Research also suggests that mouthwashes containing alcohol increase the risk of oral cancer.

7 Don’t skip check-ups
If you notice a cavity, have dental pain or bleeding gums or experience sensitivity, see the dentist. You will be able to save your tooth at the right time. Also, routine dental check-ups should be no longer than every six months.

(Inputs by Dr Praveen Kumar, Max Hospital, Delhi, and Dr Ekta Chadha, Smile Studio, Delhi)