How to get that perfect smile
New Delhi: Regular oral care is an important aspect of overall well-being. From greater self-confidence to a soaring career, healthy teeth can truly transform the positivity of your mind-set and also create that perfect impression.
Delhi based dentist Ekta Chadha speaks about tips on keeping the pearly whites strong and healthy.
* Target the right area: Toothbrushing is an important part of daily dental care routine. Keeping the area where your teeth meet your gums clean can prevent gum disease, while keeping your tooth surfaces clean can help keep cavities at bay. Also, changing your toothbrush every 3-4 months is highly recommended if the bristles are frayed.
* Choosing the right toothpaste: When it comes to choosing the right toothpaste for you, it's important to think about your unique oral health needs. For example, if you have sensitive teeth, using a specialized desensitizing toothpaste, instead of basic toothpaste will help provide greater relief and is safe to use as well.
* Flossing is as important as tooth brushing: Cleaning between your teeth may help prevent cavities and remove plaque. Flossing cleans the areas which are difficult for a toothbrush to reach. It removes the food debris and plaque accumulated between the teeth.
* Sugar is the culprit of tooth decay: At every age, a healthy diet is essential for keeping the teeth in a healthy state. However, sugary foods have been known as real culprits of tooth decay. When bacteria in the mouth break down simple sugars, they produce high acids that can erode tooth enamel, opening the door to decay. Hence, it is advisable to cut down on foods and drinks that are high in acid such as sodas.
Ajay Kakar, a dentist, too has some tips to share:
* You're brushing too hard: Aggressive toothbrushing is a well-intentioned mistake! You may feel that brushing harder will remove more leftover food and the bacteria, but gentle brushing is all that is needed. When you brush too hard, it can wear down the teeth enamel and damage the gums.
* Choosing a wrong toothbrush: An important feature of a toothbrush is the bristles that remove the bacteria and loosen plaque from your teeth and gums. Sometimes, you may think that the harder the bristles are, the more they'll clean. But that's not true. Compared to hard bristles, soft bristles can clean teeth more effectively.
* Not brushing long enough: The average time a person brushes his teeth is about 33 seconds. This is only one-sixth the amount of time necessary for teeth to achieve plaque-free status. When in doubt, follow the 2s: 2 minutes, 2 times a day rule.
* Forgetting to clean other parts of the mouth: Another common mistake, while your toothbrush is at work, you may brush your front teeth more than the rest and leave out certain parts of your mouth. She suggests that brushing should be an equal opportunity activity, targeting the inside, outside and chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as your gums, and your tongue.
* Using an old toothbrush: Do you find yourself using the same old toothbrush while the seasons change around you? Are your brush bristles getting frayed? If yes, bust this bad habit and resolve to use a new brush every three to four months.
* Brushing after meals : Wait at least half an hour before brushing to let your saliva naturally neutralize the acids.
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LoP Ashoka targets CM govt over corruption, says being 'shameless' in public life not forgivable
Bengaluru (PTI): Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka on corruption, BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said, being foolish was forgivable, but being "shameless" in public life was not.
The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that in just 30 months of its tenure, the Congress administration has broken every previous record on corruption-related controversies.
He was responding to Siddaramaiah's post on 'X' on Thursday hitting back at the BJP, stating that Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa's claims of "63 per cent corruption" were based on his report in November 2019, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa was the CM.
"But Ashoka, without understanding the Upa Lokayukta's statement properly, has ended up tying the BJP's own bells of sins onto our heads and has effectively shot himself in the foot," the CM had said, as he accused Ashoka of foolishness for trying to twist Veerappa's statement to target the current government.
Responding, Ashoka said, "it is one thing to be called foolish in politics, that can be forgiven."
"But in public life, especially in the Chief Minister's chair, one must never become shameless," Ashoka posted on 'X' on Friday addressing Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the CM himself had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that a Rs 87 crore scam took place in the Valmiki Development Corporation, he said that when a CM acknowledges such a massive irregularity inside the floor of the House, the natural expectation is immediate action and accountability.
"But instead of taking responsibility, you continue in office as if nothing has happened. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
Pointing out that the CM's Economic Advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy had publicly stated that under Congress rule, Karnataka has become No.1 in corruption, Ashoka said, "Yet, you still cling to the Chief Minister's chair without a moment of introspection. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness."
Senior Congress MLA C R Patil had exposed the "money for House" racket in the Housing Department and even warned that the government would collapse if the details he has were made public, Ashoka said.
"Despite such serious allegations from within your own party (Congress), you neither initiated an inquiry nor acted against the concerned minister. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," Ashoka asked the CM.
Highlighting the "40 percent commission" allegation Congress made against the previous BJP government, the opposition leader said, the commission that the Siddaramaiah government appointed concluded that the accusation was baseless.
"After your own panel demolished your own claim, what moral right do you have to continue repeating that allegation. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
For the last two and a half years, Karnataka has been 'drowning' in corruption, scandals, irregularities and allegations across departments. Ashoka said, "If I begin listing every case that emerged under your government, even 24 hours would not be enough."
"And the most tragic aspect of your administration is this: the unbearable pressure, corruption demands and administrative harassment under your government pushed several officers and contractors into extreme distress - including the suicide of Chandrasekharan which exposed the Valmiki Development Corporation scam - a sign of how deeply broken the system has become under your watch," he said.
Instead of fixing this hopeless environment, the government has tried to bury every complaint and silence every voice, he charged.
"Being foolish is forgivable, but being shameless in public life is definitely not."
"When your own ministers admit scams, when your own advisors certify Karnataka as No.1 in corruption, and when your own MLAs expose rackets inside your departments - clinging to power without accountability is not leadership. It is shamelessness in its purest form." PTI KSU
Earlier on Thursday Ashoka had demanded that the corruption case and allegations in the state against the Congress government be handed over to a CBI investigation, citing a reported statement by Upalokaykta Justice Veerappa alleging "63 per cent corruption", following which Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP leader.
