Having healthy teeth and gums are aspects that we should not neglect. Proper dental hygiene helps eliminate bacteria in the mouth, reduces the risk of tooth decay, gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), avoids invasive treatments, prevents premature tooth loss, and helps the digestive process allowing us to properly chew food. Herein lies the importance of promoting oral health care.

Manuel Tovar, Dentist of our clinic, gives us some recommendations for healthy teeth and to avoid health complications.

1. Brush your teeth at least three times a day. Do it systematically and methodically. Do the same movements, in the same order, to clean the entire oral cavity.
2. Don’t forget to wash your tongue to avoid the formation of bacterial plaque and bad breath. Use a soft bristle brush.
3. Make sure there are no traces of food on the upper and lower lip. Stand in front of a mirror and see that your teeth and gums are clean.
4. Use dental floss to remove food from the teeth and keep gums healthy.
5. Use alcohol-free mouthwash to kill germs, protect tooth enamel, and have fresh breath.
6. Be careful with the food you eat. Sugars and carbohydrates promote tooth decay. Wine and coffee stain teeth and highly acidic drinks can damage enamel.
7. Visit the dentist every 6 months as prevention. Don’t wait for pain or discomfort.

In these times of pandemic, proper dental hygiene helps to reduce the risk of colonization of opportunistic bacteria that can aggravate the situation of patients with COVID. It is essential to conclude with the dental treatments suspended at the beginning of the State of Emergency.

Currently, dental offices have strict biosafety protocols, to provide an efficient and safe service to their patients. Consult with your health care center about the measures you should follow to have a face-to-face consultation.

Dr. Manuel Tovar
Dentist at Clínica Ricardo Palma