How to Practice Sustainable Oral health Practices

The environmental changes are something a lot of us stay abreast of.   It has now become something that we are looking at with our oral care products. 

Here, we’ll go over some of the different royal care practices to think about, and how to choose more sustainable types of oral care products as well, so you are reducing your carbon footprint on all fronts. 

What to Look for With sustainable Toothpastes and mouthwashes 

Sustainable toothpastes and mouthwashes are something a lot more people are looking for. They want something without any harmful ingredients and chemicals, but also comes in a manner that’s more eco friendly. 

To find good sustainable toothpastes, you should first look at the packaging. You can actually get toothpaste in glass jars, cardboard boxes, and aluminum tubes as well. if the packaging is important, you definitely should look for this. 

The ingredients, however, are what’s better to look at. You want to make sure that it doesn’t contain palm oil, sodium lauryl sulfate, glycerin, triclosan, or anything artificial.   Try to get a toothpaste that also doesn’t have microbeads, because not only are those made of plastic, but they are toxic substances.   Some are even vegan and cruelty free as well.

While it might not be necessary, this is worth looking into, and you might want to look for activated charcoal toothpaste as well. 

How to Find a Sustainable Toothbrush

Then there are sustainable toothbrushes.   Some people like manual toothbrushes, but others might like electric ones. While these are great, they’re not commonly made with sustainable materials. 

However, bamboo brushes tend to be a better option if the environment is something you worry about. They’re made from a directly sustainable material, and are biodegradable, so you can just compose this when it’s done.   They also tend to be gentler than the plastic ones, which are better for those who have sensitive gums.

However, electric toothbrushes have a longer life, and you only need to replace the heads when they are done. While electric might not be as environmentally sound, they do tend to get deeper with the cleaning, so if you do have gums that are sensitive, or maybe some tooth conditions, it’s easier on that.

Overall, you should look at your budget, and how you want to use these toothbrushes, and from there, get something that fits your needs, and also use less plastic than other normal toothbrushes out there. 

Reducing Waste During Your Dental Routine 

Now that you know a little bit about the toothbrushes and toothpastes that are out there, here’s a few ways to reduce waste during the dental routine.

Obviously, try to go sustainable.   Some people have even made their own oral care items in order to reduce their waste.   Reusable toothbrushes, especially those that are electric, will be best fit for the job, especially since they are much easier to replace.

If you invest in high-quality items, you will also reduce waste. It will last a lot longer, and better too.

When you’re trying to save water, make sure to not leave the sink running. It might sound silly, but you actually waste a ton of water when you do that, so make sure that you do turn the faucet off when you aren’t using it.

A tongue scraper as well might be good, especially if you don’t want to wear out your toothbrush. Metal tongue scrapers last a long time, and they can reduce the plaque in the mouth.

Trying to go zero waste with your tooth products can be a challenge, but here we gave you a few ways to be sustainable.

All About Cavities

 Cavities are a form of tooth decay where bacteria generate acids, destroying the enamel of the tooth, and the dentin underneath it.  you might wonder about what these normally entail. Well, we have a little more to tell you about cavities, and why they are no good. 

Signs and Symptoms of Cavities 

Most of the time, you do know when you might have problems. The first, is your teeth hurt, aching a little bit. The second, is there’s  activity when it comes to sweet, hot, and cold drinks. The third, is a pain when chewing. 

Cavity Causes 

The main reason for cavities is because we don’t take care of our teeth and are eating too many sugary foods. 

While the mouth houses a wealth of bacteria, building up sticky film called plaque happens when the bad bacteria eat a whole bunch of sugars. 

When we drink and eat certain foods, the bacteria create what’s called acids. These dissolve the protective elements beneath the plaque that’s retained. The acids remove various minerals directly from the enamel. When not treated, cavities form. 

The decay then happens in the major parts of your mouth known as the enamel, and the enamel then gets further brown down as decay gets further into the dentin, eventually reaching the tooth pulp. That of course, can lead to some major damage and possible removal of the tooth. 

Diagnosis and Prevention 

The easiest way to diagnose these cavities is by looking at the surface of the tooth. X-rays also help to see where the cavity goes, and how far into the pulp or dentin of your teeth. 

If there is one, you will need treatments, but there are different ways to help you with preventing this. 

The first is to brush and floss these on a daily basis. It reduces the amount of plaque that builds up in the mouth on the daily. 

The second, is to eat less starchy and sugary foods as often, in order to reduce the acids that damage the teeth in the mouth.

When brushing, utilize a fluoride toothpaste. This will strengthen the teeth.  The treatments also provided by dentists, or utilizing fluoride supplements are further recommended too. 

Try to use mouth rinses that are antibacterial, in order to reduce the bacteria that’s responsible for activities. 

Finally, if you have gum, chewing gum with xylitol in there also decreases the overall bacterial growth of the area, and can make things easier on you. 

Treatments for Cavities 

Most of the time, treatments involve filling in the cavity especially if the enamel isn’t able to be fixed.  If you have a chance, get sealants early to prevent this. 

If it gets serious, you might need a root canal. 

Children can get the baby molars and later on those permanent molars sealed. The fluoride varnish on both the permanent and primary teeth protect you from decay.

When not treated, it actually can cause significant decay. Eventually, the decay, when left uncontrolled, permanently destroys the teeth. There is also the possibility of an abscess developing as infection spreads to the tooth root. 

The cavities that occur are a result of poor hygiene and retained dental plaque. The specific bacteria can also hit the gum line, causing gum disease in the mouth, which at that point, you’ll need a periodontist to treat. because they can penetrate the mouth, they may also create nerve damage too if you’re not careful. 

Simply put, with cavities, treating them right will eventually lead to prevention. Utilizing preventative care stops the worst of the damage from happening and builds better dental health.