Intro:
The first thing that people see is your smile. A bright, white smile boosts self-confidence. But you also want a healthy smile. Healthy teeth keep each tooth free of cavities, the need for a root canal or dental implants.
A combination of strategies achieves healthy teeth. The following are seven healthy teeth best practices to adopt.
1. Brush Before Going to Bed
Dentists implore the public to brush their teeth twice a day because brushing removes plaque, food particles, and the film that coats teeth.
By brushing twice a day for two minutes each time, you’re preventing plaque and gunk build-up on every tooth. When you focus 30 seconds in every quadrant, you’re loosening food particles stuck in the crevices.
Moreover, you’re trying to scrape off the food particles that you can’t see, such as starch and sugar.
Brushing before bed ensures that anything leftover from dinner doesn’t decay in your mouth for the next six to eight hours.
2. Floss Daily
Some people fear floss. However, healthy teeth require daily flossing too.
Flossing scoops out hard-to-reach food particles, plaque, sugar, and starch.
Now if your gums are sensitive to the floss, there’s something serious going on. The same goes for bleeding. If there’s bleeding, some dentists let their patients know that they need to floss more often.
If you experience discomfort or gum bleeding after flossing, it’s a sign that your dentist needs to take a closer look at your teeth. In the best-case scenario, you’re due for a cleaning. In the worst, you’re inching closer toward periodontal disease.
3. Eat Teeth Friendly Foods
Healthy teeth require teeth-friendly foods for the nutrients and their cleaning effects.
For example, foods high in fiber help teeth stay clean. Increase your intake of fresh fruits and crunchy vegetables.
Dairy products, including yogurt, cheese, and milk, help your mouth produce saliva. A dry mouth becomes an environment for bacteria, cavity growth, and bad breath. Saliva helps combat all three. Dairy products also contain calcium and protein, two healthy teeth necessities.
Skip foods and drinks high in sugar, such as soft drinks, candies, and pre-packaged breakfast items. Instead, opt for eggs, yogurt parfaits with berries, and smoothies. As a bonus, they’re body-healthy foods too.
4. Hydrate with Water
When you’re thirsty, hydrate with water for healthy teeth. Even after an intense workout, pick water over sports drinks.
As you consume the water, swish a gulp or two in your mouth; it cleans your teeth. You can swish energy and sports drinks in your mouth too, but you’re bathing your teeth in sugar, which isn’t a good idea.
5. Purchase Fluoride Products
When you head to the oral health section of your favorite retailer, you’ll notice that there are many products on the shelves. The varieties of toothpaste and mouthwash seem endless.
Next time you’re in the market for toothpaste and mouthwash, pick the ones with fluoride. The fluoride acts as a protective film against bacteria, plaque, and acid found in foods. You keep your teeth healthy by protecting them against decay.
6. Visit Your Dentist Every Six Months
Visiting your dentist once every six months means discovering a new cavity or other dental issues. The visit isn’t all negative either. The dental hygienist cleans every tooth. You leave the office with that fresh sensation in your mouth.
A dental visit is an opportunity to discover teeth issues before they become serious. Maybe you’re experiencing a stressful period. Suddenly, you’ve become a teeth grinder. Grinding teeth leads to several harmful teeth side effects, such as bruxism, TMJ, and gum recession. Learn more about finding bruxism relief in this article.
7. Use the Right Tools and Technique
Along with the several varieties of toothpaste and mouthwash on the market, there are also technology-advanced tools. Today’s toothbrush is electric powered and consists of timers, lights, and Bluetooth technology.
The toothbrush lights and alerts help you execute the right teeth brushing technique. Combined with a water flosser, it’s far easier to maintain healthy teeth at home. The pressured water from the flosser knocks food particles from crevices and other hard-to-reach areas.
Conclusion
Your dentist helps you achieve a healthy smile. Then it’s up to you to maintain it at home. By adopting healthy teeth best practices, your smile remains bright. More importantly, it remains free of cavities and pain.
