Teeth are not only essential for making a smile beautiful, the devices are necessity for ensuring that proper nutrition is in reach and that communication will be clear. Since adults only get one set of permanent teeth, protecting them is a must. Fortunately the process is relatively easy and affordable.

When it comes to dental health, prevention is worth its weight in gold. It has been suggested that that for every $1 spent on professional preventative dentistry, a savings of $8 to $50 on restorative care will be generated. Experts advise spending money on visiting the dentist for dental care at least twice a year is one of the simplest ways to protect teeth. However, that effort will be in vain without individuals taking the easy and affordable ways to protect their teeth on their own.

Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene is the process of cleaning teeth and while many people may think they are clean thanks to their frequent showering and constant clothes washing, dental neglect is all too common. Various studies have indicated that even though most people know that brushing and flossing is important, the tasks are done incorrectly or are skipped altogether.

For countless years man has struggled with the task of oral hygiene and have utilized tools such as quills, branches and herbal mouth rinses for dental care. While primitive may not have known why cleaning teeth was so important, eventually it was found that dental neglect contributed to a build up of dental plaque; communities of oral bacteria that band together to digest simple sugars and starches left behind on teeth. That plaque will do their duty with gusto and produce a tooth eroding acid as a byproduct of its work. It is that acid that is known for causing dental problems including cavities, gum disease and tooth decay. Oral hygiene is the best way to combat that scenario and protect teeth.

Individuals are encouraged to brush their teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste in order to get the additional cavity-fighting benefits of the ingredient. The process should take a full two minutes or a total of thirty seconds for the front and backs of the top and bottom of teeth. Flossing at least once a day is the way to ensure the deliver of the best plaque removal strategy. It has been said that brushing without flossing is the equivalent to leaving about 30 percent of one’s body unwashed in the shower. Instead, a smarter move is to brush teeth prior to bedtime, floss afterwards to remove any stray plaque or food that got wedged between teeth and to finish the process by rinsing with clean, fresh water.

Mouth Guards

No amount of effort can keep a tooth intact from a swift kick or punch to the face. Yet if you actively participate in team sports, that risk is a real one. Instead of just keeping your fingers crossed in hopes that you pearly whites won’t get damaged next time you are on the field, opting to wear a mouth guard is a much smarter move.

Mouth guards developed out of the necessity to protect teeth in high risk situations: the first one was invented by London dentist named Woolf Krauze. In 1890 he produced the very first mouth guard to protect boxers against lip cuts, lip gashes and injury. Since that time, there have been a multitude of design improvements and now individuals can either buy a stock version or splurge on a custom fitted device and the devices are now used to prevent harm from accidents as well as self induced tooth inflictions caused by conditions including TMJ.

Tobacco Cessation

A person that commits their efforts to practicing oral hygiene and protecting teeth with a mouth guard can undo all their good deeds if they continue to smoke or opt to chew their vice. Of all the vices out there, smoking is thought to be the worst; cigarettes contain hundreds of chemicals and toxins with no health benefits, the habit causes cancer and it is extremely expensive. While quitting tobacco is certainly more challenging than brushing, flossing or wearing a mouth guard, it is the most rewarding way individuals can instantly protect teeth.

Smoking tobacco is the most popular way of ingesting the plant and getting the stimulant effects associated with the process.  However, once that smoke is inhaled it is known for feeding a body with carcinogens, causing plaque build up, bad breath and for promoting gum inflammation. Chewing tobacco is another way to get a fix and erroneously believed to be a safer option. All tobacco consumption has been linked to above conditions as well as cavities, gum disease and contributing to heart disease.

While protecting teeth may require some effort, the process is generally easy and affordable. Toothpaste and dental floss only costs a couple of bucks and while mouth guards do require a cash outlay, smokers who kick their habit can simply funnel the saved money towards the protective gear. Implementing these efforts and backing them up with professional dental care are the best ways to protect teeth.