Smile please: Quick, easy tips for better oral health and a healthier you

Healthy diet for teeth: Eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods and limit foods low in nutrients. A balanced diet keeps your teeth and gums healthy and helps prevent oral health problems (Image: Canva)

Your oral health is not just about having immaculate white teeth, it is much more than that. Your mouth acts as a window to your physical and mental health. Therefore it is important to take care of your oral health in order to live a happy and healthy life.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), good oral health leads to fewer cancers, better diabetes management, and reduced need for opioids. Apart from a regular oral care, factors like access to affordable healthy foods, dental insurance, and preventive care play a significant role in maintaining good oral health.

Here's how you can take simple steps to improve oral health:

You are what you eat: Always practice good nutrition. Eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods and limit foods low in nutrients. A balanced diet keeps your teeth and gums healthy and helps prevent oral health problems.

Quit smoking, not just for your teeth: Tobacco use is linked to oral cancers and other serious health issues. Reducing tobacco use can help improve your oral  health and also lend various other health benefits.

An ounce of prevention: Provide resources for HPV vaccinations. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is linked to about 70 percent of throat cancers. Ensuring access to HPV vaccines can help prevent these cancers.

More hands make smile work: Go for regular check-ups. Allow dental hygienists and other oral health providers to perform all permitted dental procedures. Expanding their scope of practice increases access to dental care and improves your oral health.

Brush up on prevention: Support fluoride varnish applications in various health care settings. Fluoride helps prevent cavities and maintaining access to fluoride treatments is essential for long-term oral health.

Water is the source of life: Adjust fluoride levels in public water systems. Proper fluoride levels help prevent cavities, and adjusting them as needed can benefit not just you but the community at large.