Whenever we see someone with a great smile, we instantly think “Wow! He’s blessed with beautiful teeth”. What most don’t seem to realize is that a great smile is a result of meticulous care and upkeep of oral hygiene and health. It is absolutely vital that you take the right steps to ensure that your smile looks great and that your oral health is always maintained.
You don’t need expensive products to be able to achieve this. All you need to do is cover the basics and have the right technique and you’ll be on your way to having that million-dollar smile. Without further ado, let’s get started!
BRUSH YOUR TEETH BEFORE GOING TO BED
Dentists constantly tell us to brush our teeth twice a day, but no one seems to follow that advice. Throughout the day, a significant amount of plaque and germs accumulate in the mouth and brushing your teeth at night not only cleans your mouth and gets rid of the plaque but also prevents plaque from solidifying around your teeth and keeps germs from causing even further serious health problems.
So, make sure that you brush your teeth twice a day!
THE PROPER BRUSHING TECHNIQUE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE
If you don’t brush your teeth using the right technique, then there is virtually no difference form not brushing your teeth at all. You can’t rush the process and need to be thorough, brushing each and every tooth in a gentle, circular motion. If you leave out any part of your teeth, it gives plaque a chance to build up and solidify leading to a range of problems including calculus buildup and gingivitis.
Plaque can also build up on your tongue which leads to a variety of problems including bad breath and other oral diseases. Therefore, it is vital that you properly brush your teeth and scrub your tongue gently and with the correct motion to ensure optimum oral health and hygiene.
MAKE SURE YOU USE FLUORIDE TOOTHPASTE
We all have our preferences when it comes to toothpaste. Whether it’s the brand, the color, the taste, or even the form (some prefer powders over paste), the choices are endless. Regardless of your preference, you have to ensure that your toothpaste has fluoride in it. Fluoride is vital in preventing tooth decay and provides a protective barrier to your teeth from germs and plaque.
There is much debate on fluoride and its impact on one’s overall health, but it continues to be recommended by dentists and oral health professionals on a constant basis. While the adverse effects can be argued, one cannot deny that fluoride does provide benefits when it comes to oral health.
YOU SHOULD FLOSS AS MUCH AS YOUR BRUSH YOUR TEETH
While many people may pay the right amount of attention to brushing their teeth, flossing often goes neglected. This is surprising considering the number of benefits that flossing can bring to your overall oral health. Not only does flossing help you get rid of food stuck between your teeth, but it also reduces plaque buildup, lowers inflammation of the gums, and stimulates them as well, keeping blood flow uninterrupted leading to healthier gums.
Therefore, make sure that you floss your teeth as well. Even if you choose to not do it as frequently as brushing, it is recommended that you floss once a day. If that seems to be too daunting a task for you, then floss at least once every two days to ensure optimum oral health. Many argue that the entire process is entirely too cumbersome, with having to pull the string out of the box and then cutting it and setting up the grip properly. If such a simple task is too complicated for you, then you can consider ready-to-use dental flossers that are available at any reputable drug store.
MOUTHWASH CAN BE A GREAT SUPPLEMENT
Mouthwash has many advantages. You can clean hard to reach areas, mineralize your teeth, and reduce the acids in your mouth. It balances your oral health and can be a great way of maintaining it for children and old people.
DRINK WATER
While not the go-to tool for maintaining oral health, water can help keep your mouth clean in between brushing throughout the day. It can help flush out food and sticky substances from in between your teeth. As a rule of thumb, dentists recommend that you drink a glass of water after every meal or after you’ve had a snack.
EAT CRUNCHY AND NATURAL FOOD
When it comes to food and ensuring your oral health and hygiene, you should avoid ready-to-eat food and stick to more organic and natural foods such as vegetables and fruits. Not only are these a healthy source of fiber but they are also excellent for maintaining your oral health. The crunchiness can help strengthen your teeth and their roots and many doctors recommend that children should be eating such foods to strengthen their teeth.
CUT OR LIMIT ACIDIC AND SUGARY FOOD
It may be difficult to get rid of sugary and acidic foods from your life, but it would be optimum if you could limit your food intake. Sugar converts to acid in the mouth, which in turn leads to cavities. Acidic foods on the other hand, such as coffee and tea, are great at wearing down natural tooth enamel leading to discoloration and a range of oral health issues.
REGULARLY VISIT YOUR DENTIST
Even if you follow all of the above tips religiously, you should still consider visiting your dentist on a regular basis. As a rule, at the very least you should be visiting your dentist twice a year for a check-up and cleaning. Your mouth is also a part of your body and if you’re visiting your general physician every year to make sure everything is working fine, then you should also consider visiting your dentist with the same devotion. Dentists can help spot other problems and offer treatment for any potential health issues that might come up.
We hope the above tips help you get that million-dollar smile you’ve always wanted! For more great tips and oral healthcare options, please visit Smileworks dentists.