Treat your teeth

Most of us shudder when we have to go to a dentist, we tryand put it off as much as we can until we can no longer handle the pain, and bythen it is invariably too late. There are a lot of myths associated with thedreaded visit to the dentist. Dr Sunil Coutinho says, “A lot of people don’tcome in for dental treatment during the monsoon adhering to an old wives talethat it’s bad for you. Some even say that it is inadvisable to visit thedentist during high tide or low tide. If one has other body ailments, problemswith ones teeth are put on the back burner. All of these are myths, and aresimply untrue.”

Actually all one needs to do to avoid a painful trip to thedentist is maintain good oral hygiene. Simply brushing twice a day and eatinghealthy can keep most teeth problems at bay. Dr Dilip Bandodkar says, “Goodoral hygiene, apart from keeping your teeth and gums in good condition, givesone a feeling of cleanliness and confidence. Though oral hygiene is a matter oflong discussion, in a nutshell, one should brush at least twice a day, once inthe morning and before retiring for the night, for 3-5 minutes with a softbristle tooth brush in a proper manner. After brushing, it is advisable tomassage the gums with your finger and also clean the tongue with a tonguecleaner or brush. Other things to remember & follow - rinse your mouthevery time you eat or sip something.”

Healthy eating habits also ensure healthy teeth and gums,not to mention helping with overall health as well. Dr Bandodkar concludes, “Goodfood habits, avoiding fast food or packaged food and sticking to home cookedfood is the way to go. Incorporate salads in your diet. Raw vegetables likecarrot, cucumber, cabbage and fruits with skin like apple are like naturalbrushes. They help in removing cooked food stuck in the tooth crevices. Apartfrom previously mentioned habits, one can floss the teeth at night and moreimportantly, visit your dentist every 6 months for a regular checkup.”