Dental and lip care means consistently carrying out a daily routine that involves thorough care for the teeth, the gums, the tongue and the lips. The routine can involve brushing teeth daily, flossing, brushing the tongue, as well as staying hydrated and moisturizing the lips. These small habits determine the state of an individual’s dental health. A poor oral routine evidently results in oral health problems over time, whilst a consistent routine sustains oral health for a long period. Caring for the teeth should be of utmost importance because it has the capacity to boost one’s confidence when they are aware that they have healthy teeth and lips and also improves the beauty of a person. This blog provides some tips on how to take care of the teeth and lips, sustaining oral health and lip health. 

Teethcare 

Brush twice daily: Teeth require a daily routine that involves brushing teeth, mainly twice a day. Opt for a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste, and brush for at least 2 minutes a day. Brushing teeth removes plaque and food residues that get stuck between the teeth, and fluoride strengthens the enamel, prevents cavities and reverses tooth decay. 

Clean between the teeth: Food residues can get stuck between teeth, which feeds harmful bacteria, causes bad breath and leads to tooth decay. As such, use floss or an interdental brush once a day to remove plaque. 

Clean your tongue: The tongue is a place where plaque and bacteria build up, which can cause bad breath and a lower sense of taste. Therefore, take time to brush or scrape the tongue using a tongue scraper to remove plaque. 

Limit sugar intake: Sugar is a culprit that causes tooth decay; eating foods that have highly processed sugars feeds harmful bacteria, which turn sugar into acid. This acid destroys teeth and causes tooth decay. 

Regular dental check-ups: Undergoing regular dental check-ups helps to have thorough teeth cleaning and identification of any oral problems that require treatment. As such, always schedule dental check-ups at least twice a year. 

Lipcare 

Stay hydrated: Dry lips are mainly caused by dehydration; as such, drink adequate amounts of water to stay hydrated.

Use lip balm: Always keep the lips moisturized by applying lip balm or petroleum jelly, and ensure that the lip balm has SPF to protect the lips from UV damage. Regular moisturizing seals the skin barrier against dry air and wind and prevents cracking and chapping.

Avoid licking lips: Licking lips causes chapping and dryness, which is why it is important to moisturize and keep hydrated. Licking lips is also a sign of dehydration and lack of moisture; as such, replace licking lips with a lip moisturizer and drinking water. 

Conclusion 

It does not take a lot of energy or cost much to take care of one’s oral health and lips, but it can do a lot more when neglecting oral hygiene routines. Therefore, be cautious and take care of personal oral hygiene, and even with children, it’s best to teach them early on how to take care of their teeth and lips so that it becomes part of their lifestyle. Dr. Bikramjit Singh at Dhillion Ludhiana Dental Centre helps people have healthy oral health by providing treatments and conducting regular check-ups so that they sustain their oral health. 

FAQ’s 

Is it okay to floss with a thread?

Never use sewing thread to floss the teeth; it can injure the gums, it can easily break and get stuck between gums, and it is not sterilized for teeth use. 

When should I use mouthwash?

The best time to use mouthwash is 30 minutes after brushing teeth, which protects the enamel from bacteria throughout the day. 

What should I do when my lips start chapping?

Treat chapping by applying a thick moisturiser like Vaseline consistently, avoiding licking the lips and ensuring you stay hydrated.