For most people, the ideal smile would be a mouth full of gleaming white and aesthetically perfect teeth. This isn’t a bad idea at all, but for dentists, the real ideal smile would be a healthy one. To have this healthy smile, it’s essential that your mouth functions properly without infections or pain. If you’re wondering about a reliable and trustworthy dental clinic in Minnesota, check out this Plymouth dental clinic.
Here are some tips to achieve that healthier smile:
Schedule checkups and cleanings
Have your checkups and cleanings scheduled routinely as this can keep you and your dentist well informed about the health and overall well-being of your mouth. Most patients will be advised to visit their dentist at least once every six months. However, for some people with unique oral needs, frequent visits might be needed.
During these checkups, your oral hygienist or dentist will look for evidence of infections or diseases that you might not have noticed yet. If your dentist also sees plaque buildup around your teeth, they can easily remove it by using special scraping tools to avoid further implications. Going to your routine checkups can give you the advantage of having a trained eye to check and make sure that everything in your mouth is healthy, and to prevent problems before anything gets serious.
Brush and floss your teeth
Maybe you’ve heard this a million times before and you’re probably tired of hearing this from the dentist. But one way to make sure that you keep your mouth healthy is by doing daily oral maintenance at home.
Ideally, you should brush your teeth before eating or a few hours after. Although it’s not bad to brush your teeth immediately after eating, brushing it too soon can cause issues, as the saliva in your mouth will be more acidic and can soften the enamel surface of your teeth. Also, you should always consider investing in a good toothbrush, and remember not to put too much pressure while brushing.
In addition to frequent and proper brushing, flossing your teeth is also one way to keep your mouth healthy. Flossing your teeth at least once a day can remove particles of food stuck between your teeth that brushing alone cannot remove. The longer the food particles stay in there, the likelihood of gum infection and plaque buildup will be higher.
Don’t wait till it hurts
Tooth infections and gum diseases usually don’t hurt in its early stages. You’ll only start to feel the pain when the problem worsens, and more advanced treatments will be required. This can be avoided by learning and identifying the early signs of infections and diseases, and by immediately seeing your dentist when you feel unusual sensations in your gums or teeth. Keep in mind that early intervention can be the difference between regular cleaning, root canal treatment, antibiotics, or extraction.
Prevent stains
Having healthy teeth doesn’t mean you’re going to get perfect white ones unless you use teeth whitening treatments. Generally, healthy teeth will have an off-white tint. However, if your teeth are going black, it can mean a more serious problem.
Although staining will not cause any harm to your teeth, it’s still something you’d surely want to avoid. You can simply do this by avoiding drinks and food that cause stains, such as:
- Red wine
- Coffee
- Tea
- Beets
- Blueberries
This doesn’t mean that you should entirely avoid these food or drinks, but you should consider taking them in moderation.
Eat healthily
Having a healthy diet will definitely help you have a healthy smile. You can start by avoiding sugary drinks and food to reduce the risk of cavities. By simply choosing healthier food alternatives such as apples or almonds, you can significantly lower the chances of tooth decay and other diseases. This will not only promote a healthier set of teeth, but it will also improve your overall well-being.
Stop smoking
Smoking tobacco products can increase the risk of yellow teeth, gum disease, and even oral cancer. This will risk not only your oral health, but also your overall wellness. The best and simplest way to avoid these issues is to stay away from using tobacco.
Closing thoughts
Taking good care of your oral health can sometimes be difficult and demanding. However, with the help of this article and by regularly visiting a dentist, keeping a healthy and bright smile will never be that hard again. Always remember that as simple as brushing your teeth twice a day and following your dentist’s advice can go a long way in keeping your smile healthy.