A Mouthful Of Smile

Manners Of The Mouth
Lifestyle changes to improve oral health

• Be a role model to your child by practising good oral health care habits.
• Check your child's mouth for bleeding gums, swollen gums, gums receding away from teeth and bad breath.
• Eat a balanced diet, including foods high in calcium and vitamin C.
• Stop smoking.
• Brush twice a day, floss once a day.
• Watch for signs of gingivitis (gum disease)-redness, swelling or tenderness.
• Visit the dentist twice a year.
• Limit intake of sugary foods.
• Eat two hours before you sleep (good for losing weight too). As saliva flow is less during sleep, food clearance is slowed.
• Fluoride treatment: a) Use a toothpaste with more fluoride b) A fluoride mouthwash can be self-applied on a weekly basis or can be staff-supervised in a dental care centre.
• Warning signs to visit your dentist

• Hot or cold sensation in your teeth.
• Pain on chewing.
• Food particles getting stuck in the gums or teeth.
• Brown or black discolouration on teeth.
• Swelling or salty taste in the mouth.
• Bleeding from gums in the morning or on eating.
• Irregular placement of teeth.
• Loose teeth.
• Pain on one side of the face.
• Missing teeth.
• Medications that can cause a dry mouth

All anti-allergy medicines.

• Decongestants (cold, cough or asthma medicines).
  Painkillers.
• Diuretics (Used for high blood-pressure, hypertension and water retention).
• High blood-pressure medications (some are not diuretics).Anti-depressants.

Reproduced from Outlook Business's Wellness Column by Rachna Chhachhi