Are we changing our oral care regime with changing times?

Lifestyle's today have changed immensely; fast-paced, instant and on-the-go. This means, lesser time to pay attention onwhat to eat, how to eat, and if it is affecting the overall and oral health.

Lifestyle's today have changed immensely; fast-paced, instant and on-the-go. This means, lesser time to pay attention on what to eat, how to eat, and if it is affecting the overall and oral health. Even with the evolving times, not everyone seems to have upgraded themselves to a better oral hygiene routine. This means, the chances of cavities and other oral health problems continue to rise.

In fact today, junk food is a part of our daily diet. This not just affects the overall health but has implications on one's teeth as well. According to a leading periodontist Dr Minalli Vasandani Goswami from Sunrise Hospital, 'The Burger, Pizza and Fries (BPF) diet adds sticky, non-fibrous and acidic foods in our daily diet, which means lack of roughage that naturally cleanses the teeth and prevents oral cavity. To add to it, increased intake of colas and high caffeinated products further weaken the tooth structure by changing the dynamics of salivary pH, thus dissolving the important minerals of the teeth.'

This concern was further affirmed by a recent survey conducted by the market research firm GFK Mode. The survey highlights the concern of the dentists about the rise in cavities. Additionally 90% mothers feel that children today are more prone to cavities than when they were kids themselves. Commissioned by Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, the survey found that not only modern day foods but also everyday foods like rice, dal and fruits produce sugar acids that are responsible for cavities. Therefore, it is vital to have some method of combating these sugar acids and this is where Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection plus Sugar Acid Neutralizers can help. This toothpaste fights sugar acids by neutralising them and therefore, brushing with it helps keep cavities away.

The rise of lifestyle diseases such as stress further adds to our oral health woes. 'Lack of proper nutrition and increased level of stress strips the body of important vitamins leading to nutritional deficiency associated oral health diseases,' adds Dr Minalli. Not just this, if you think oral diseases do not have an impact on any other system in your body then you are mistaken. It can be a cause for several other diseases because your mouth is the gateway to your body.

It is therefore important to make sure you follow an oral hygiene routine to ensure your mouth is free from any disease. All these factors are playing havoc with our oral health and unless we take conscious steps to keep our mouth healthy, problems are going to arise sooner than later.

Here are some tips to keep in mind

• Brush your teeth twice daily.
• Don't forget to floss either.
• Visit your dentist every six months for a regular check-up.

Ensure to visit a dentist especially if you notice any pain, discolouration, etc in your teeth and gums.

You may also like to read:

• Top Oral Hygiene Mistakes
• 10 common queries on oral hygiene answered
• Are you brushing your teeth right?
• Top 10 foods to prevent dental cavities in children (and how to make them eat those!)

Image source: Getty images

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