Taking good care of your teeth and gums is one of the most important aspects of living a healthy, happy life. Tooth decay and gum disease can be painful and leave you with long-term health problems that can result in the need to remove your teeth. Fortunately, tooth decay and gum disease are preventable.
Aside from going to the dentist for routine teeth cleaning, there are many things you can do to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
Brush Properly
Surprise, surprise, brushing properly is first on the list. Many people think that the best way to brush their teeth is by brushing as hard and fast as possible to scrape up every last bit of plaque, but that’s not necessary. Take your time when brushing. Move the toothbrush in gentle, circular motions over both the teeth and gums, and you’re good to go. No excessive force is necessary. Oh, and don’t forget to brush your tongue as well; it’s a favourite hiding spot of plaque and bacteria.
Brush Frequently
Even if you have a perfect brushing technique, you need to brush multiple times a day. At least twice a day or after every meal. Most importantly, you should always brush your teeth before going to bed. If you don’t, the germs and plaque that build up over the course of the day will have a field day on your teeth while you’re asleep.
Use A Fluoride Toothpaste
Kinds of toothpaste are available in seemingly limitless sizes, flavours, and colours, but fluoride is the number one thing you should be looking for in a toothpaste. Not only does fluoride fight harmful germs, but it also creates a protective barrier for your teeth. Fluoride is still the best thing we have to prevent tooth decay.
Floss Regularly
Brushing with fluoride toothpaste is vitally important, but it’s not enough on its own to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Flossing helps remove plaque and food build-up between your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach. Don’t wait until you feel a popcorn kernel or see a piece of spinach stuck in your teeth to bring out the floss. You should be flossing at least once every day.
Reduce Your Consumption of Sugary And Acidic Food
The foods you choose to eat will have a major impact on your oral health. Acidic and sugary foods, in particular, can lead to painful cavities, tooth decay, and tooth sensitivities. Our teeth are protected by a layer of enamel, the first line of defense against tooth decay. The biggest threat to enamel is acids because they wear down the enamel, which leads to cavities. Acidic foods to avoid are acidic fruits like citrus, teas, and coffee.
If acids cause tooth decay, why is everyone always talking about how sugary foods cause cavities? Well, the two concepts are actually linked. The sugar itself doesn’t cause damage. However, bacteria found in plaque breaks down sugar and converts it into acid in your mouth. Avoid sugary foods like gummies, chocolate, and other sweets.
You don’t have to cut out sugary and acidic foods entirely; just don’t go overboard and make sure you brush after eating them.
Drink Lots Of Water
Drinking water has an incredible amount of positive health effects, and our oral health is no exception. It’s unreasonable to expect everyone to carry around a toothbrush and toothpaste everywhere they go, so sometimes you’ll need to go long periods of time without brushing. Drinking water doesn’t clean your teeth, but it can help wash off sugary and acidic foods that get stuck on your teeth and gums in between brushes. You can also use water to replace sugary drinks like pop or juice.
Get Professional Teeth Cleaning
Brushing, flossing, and managing your diet are all excellent steps you can take to maintain healthy teeth and gums. But, you can only do so much on your own. You should see your dentist at least twice a year for regular teeth cleaning. Not only can they clean your teeth more thoroughly than you can at home, but they can also identify any potential problems and recommend solutions. If you don’t have a regular dentist, visit the website of local dentists like www.drtraceydowntowndental.ca. From there, you can learn about the services they offer, their location, insurance policies, and other qualities that you’ll want in a trustworthy dentist.