There are lots of things we don’t know about oral health yet. As more research and time is devoted to it, the more we’ll get to unlock the mysteries behind our mouths and teeth.
Of course, there are already lots of things we know about oral health as well. Here are 10 facts about it that you need to know right now.
- The Time You Spend Brushing
Studies show that the average person spends roughly 38.5 days just brushing their teeth throughout their entire life. That’s just well over a month!
This might seem excessive but it’s more than enough to ensure that you have a set of healthy teeth throughout the start and end of your life.
- Adults And Brushing
Statistics show that roughly 25% of adults do not brush their teeth twice a day. This kind of practice increases the likelihood of tooth decay by up to 33%.
As tiring as it may be, make sure to brush after every meal. If that seems too much, at least make sure to brush during the morning and one more time before you go to bed as well.
- The Importance Of Flossing
ou might be familiar with just how persistent dentists are when it comes to asking you to floss. That’s because brushing alone isn’t enough. Flossing lets you reach a staggering 40% of your teeth that your brush cannot reach.
Don’t forget to floss as it is a vital part of your oral hygiene. Ideally, you should floss at least once a day, preferably, at night before you go to bed.
If you find flossing too difficult you can ask your dentist for other means like interdental brushes, water picks, water jets, flosses, superfloss.
- Your Mouth And Bacteria
If you’re squeamish, you might want to skip this one. There are over 300 bacteria in your mouth alone. Don’t worry though as not all of them are bad bacteria, some are good and essential for maintaining the balance in your mouth as well.
It’s impossible to have a bacteria-free mouth as these are thriving organisms that continue to develop and populate your mouth.
- Tongue hygiene
Cleaning the tongue is part of the process of cleaning your mouth too, as a large majority of bacteria live in the tongue. Ask your dentist about Tongue scrapers
- Soft drinks And Your Oral Health
If you’re a big fan of soft drinks, you might want to dial it down a bit. People who drink three or more cups of it per day are 62% more likely to suffer from various oral health problems. These include tooth decay, tooth loss, tooth erosion, and many more.
Of course, drinking water will be the preferred choice, as its helps to produce more saliva.
- How Many Gallons Of Saliva?
Throughout your lifetime, you’re bound to produce at least 10,000 gallons of saliva. That’s basically a truck’s worth of spit! As disgusting as this may sound, saliva is actually a very important part of your dental health.
It makes food easier to swallow and it can contain enzymes that help with digestion as well. Additionally, saliva makes it easier for you to swallow food and it also contains calcium and phosphate which help make your enamel stronger.
- What Is Enamel?
Enamel is the hard part that covers your teeth crown. It might be a thin layer but it’s apparently one of the hardest parts of your body. It’s also made out of calcium and phosphate. Its main job is to protect your teeth which is why they’re important.
As hard as they may be, they can chip and crack over time. One way to keep them healthy is by avoiding sugary and acidic food altogether.
- Plaque Is The Enemy
This is the slimy and sticky substance that forms on your teeth. To put it simply, they are the main enemies of oral health. You can remove plaque by regularly brushing and flossing. Failure to do so will cause plaque to harden and from then on, you can have a host of oral health problems waiting to happen.
- Oral Diseases Around The World
Studies suggest that nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide suffer from oral health diseases. Do you want to be a part of that population?
Oral health diseases aren’t only uncomfortable, they also affect your confidence too. With regular dentist visits and proper oral hygiene, you don’t ever have to worry about these things.
These 10 oral health facts aren’t just fun to learn. They’re also important to help you understand how you can take care of your teeth better. Now that you have a better understanding of your teeth, and your oral and general health you should at least understand why dentists are very persistent about how you care for yours.
Also cleaning the tongue is part of the process of cleaning your mouth as a large majority of bacteria is in the tongue. Ask your dentist about tongue scrapers.
