Did you know? Oral hygiene is important for reasons far beyond fresh breath and a winning smile! Although those are certainly important, your oral health plays a key role in your physical health, ensuring you live a long, full life.
By developing and maintaining a top tier oral health routine, you’ll have healthier teeth and gums, resulting in a reduced need for crowns, fillings, dental implants, and other dental work. Here are our best tips for caring for your teeth.
Tip 1: Routine Dentist Visits
Make appointments to visit your dentist once every six months. At these regular checkups, you’ll receive a professional clean, as well as give your dental team the opportunity to detect and address any small issues before they become dental emergencies. This may include preventative dental measures such as sealants, fluoride, or cosmetic dentistry procedures.
Whether you’re pursuing dental care for a child, a teen, or an adult, it’s never too early or too late to start this healthy habit. Since oral health is critical in all stages of life, including pediatric dentistry and cosmetic dentistry, consider pursuing care with a family dentist.
Tip 2: Brush and Floss Twice Daily
By brushing your teeth twice each day – and by including flossing in that routine – you can remove dental plaque left behind by eating and drinking. If this plaque remains on your teeth, it builds up by feeding on food left behind from your meals, potentially resulting in gum diseases and tooth decay.
If you need help revamping your daily oral health habits, ask our team to direct you to fluoride toothpaste, a new mouthwash, or anything in between. Additionally, if you’re a caregiver for a child or an older individual, be sure to help them through these daily practices.
Tip 3: Don’t Forget Your Tongue!
Our tongues behave a lot like sponges: they hold onto bacteria that enters our mouths through eating, drinking, and breathing. If that bacteria is left to its own devices, it can breed and multiply, resulting in multiple negative side effects.
Every time you brush your teeth, you should also be brushing your tongue. This can be done by using your usual toothbrush in small, gentle circles across the surface of your tongue. You can choose to use a tongue scraper instead, which can be purchased from your local pharmacy. Without this step in your daily oral care routine, you will likely find yourself experiencing bad breath, as well as other issues.
Tip 4: Drink More Water
We often hear that sugary and alcoholic drinks can lead to weight gain, but did you know that regular consumption of these drinks can also increase the likelihood of cavities?
By increasing your regular intake of water, you can significantly improve your oral health. First, this protects your teeth from being exposed to the sugar in sodas, juices, and alcoholic beverages in the first place. Second, regularly drinking water throughout the day can also help to remove stubborn food particles that may be trapped between your teeth. Lastly, when sugar is in your mouth, it converts into an acid that can erode the enamel of your teeth. While we all enjoy the occasional sugary drink, being mindful is key.
Tip 5: Cut Out Smoking and Vaping
Although some have turned to vaping to help them quit smoking cigarettes, both are unhealthy habits that have detrimental impacts on your oral health. Smoking is actually a leading cause of oral cancer and gum disease, whether you’re exposing your body to nicotine or tobacco.
If you currently smoke or vape and would like to quit, connect with us to learn more about treatment options that can help. Even if you haven’t smoked in years, this is still something your dental team should be aware of in order to provide you with the best care possible.
Take Control of Your Teeth
While it may feel overwhelming to examine your current oral health practices and recognize some areas for improvement, know that preventative dental care is nearly always more affordable than emergency or restorative care. No matter what brings you to Rhoades, you will always receive judgment-free, expert care.
Good oral hygiene today can improve your overall quality of life, while also saving you stress, time, and concern in the long run. Connect with a dental professional like a general or cosmetic dentist to begin improving your care.
