Having healthy teeth may sound like a simple thing to do, but there’s more to it than what meet’s the eye. Healthy teeth don’t necessarily mean having the shiniest set of pearly whites. It goes deeper to having strong teeth and healthy gums as well.
While going to the dentist is one of the best ways for you to have healthy teeth, it goes hand-in-hand with practicing good oral health practices at home.
That said, here are some of the best tips coming from an expert dentist in Denver, from the Wheat Ridge Dentist clinic, to promote healthy teeth.
- Brush Your Teeth After Every Meal
Brushing your teeth may seem like all-too-familiar advice and one that’s very commonly done. But, yes, let’s face it, there are times when you can get too tired to brush your teeth, especially before going to bed at night. While you might think that this is a harmless habit, because you’re going to see your dentist anyway, it’s still best for you to always brush your teeth after every meal.
Damage on the teeth can begin due to the excess food and dirt piling up on your mouth. This leads to cavities and other tooth decay problems, as aptly noted by the Denver Cosmetic Dentistry team. A lot of the physical problems of the teeth start due to poor brushing habits. Hence, the need to brush your teeth immediately after eating.
The same principle also applies to children, especially those that are still drinking milk. As a parent, don’t let milk residue remain on your child’s teeth or mouth for a long time. Brush it right away.
As you brush your teeth, remember the following habits:
- Use a toothpaste with fluoride, at least 1000 ppm
- Floss your teeth every day
- Brush your teeth thoroughly, at least two to three minutes
- Stay Away From Sugary Food
Sugar is very tempting for anyone. The sweeter the food is, the better for our taste buds, especially so with children. But, not only does it damage your overall health, but it also has adverse effects on your teeth.
Stay away from the following sugary treats:
- Candies, gummy bears and lollipops.
- Cakes, bread, muffins, pretzels, and even chips.
- Acidic drinks, such as soda and coffee.
The less sugary food you eat, the happier your dentist becomes. Sugar is a good breeding ground of bacteria that can cause tooth decay. What you can do instead is to have more of the following food and beverages:
- Eat more food rich in calcium so that you can build stronger teeth.
- Drink more water than soda.
- Eat more green and leafy vegetables, so you chew more, which in turn, also generates more saliva for your mouth to clean itself.
- If you need to drink tea, choose green tea instead, as it has the natural ability to prevent plaque from sticking on your teeth.
- Keep In Mind That Teeth Are Only Made For Chewing
This third piece of advice might seem like a funny one, but it makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately, many are guilty of using their teeth for purposes other than chewing.
Do you use your teeth to open plastic packaging? Surely, you do. Many also use their teeth to crack open nuts, or crabs, and other things that they think their teeth are sturdy enough for. Your teeth were not made to be used as a cracker or a can opener. It’s made only to chew your food before swallowing it.
The more force you put on your teeth to do things it wasn’t made to do, the higher the chances that you’re going to chip or break your teeth.
- Use A Straw When You Can
If you have the desire to drink acidic drinks, such as coffee and sodas, use a straw whenever you can. To be more environment-friendly, choose a metal straw instead of plastic or disposable paper straws.
The straw pushes the liquid down to your mouth or throat right away, thereby avoiding your teeth. Hence, you’re controlling the chances of the acid from these drinks and sugar, from damaging your teeth, or from developing tooth decay.
- Visit Your Dentist Regularly
A regular visit to your dentist should be from around once every three or six months. Be very particular about visiting your dentist regularly, even when you feel like you don’t need to. Why?
It’s only the dentist who has the proper expertise and equipment to determine the actual state of your teeth, and what needs to be worked on. Else, you might not be aware of it, but you may already have a poorly rotting tooth that you’ve just left behind without a care.
Conclusion
Your smile matters. After all, this is one of the very first things that people meet when they see you. It can make or break the impression that you’re trying to build.
Apart from the physical looks of your teeth, you should also strive to maintain the good overall health of your gums and your mouth. Good hygiene starts with your mouth. Doing so doesn’t take much of an effort at all – as long as you start making it your healthy habit.
