Teeth are responsible for many jobs, predominantly chewing and digesting our food. They help us pronounce sounds clearly and give our face its shape. A healthy smile is a great asset that can boost self-confidence. The more you smile, the happier you’ll be, but if you’re afraid to smile because you’re insecure about your teeth, this can affect your well-being.
What Can Happen If You Don’t Look After Your Teeth Properly?
Tooth decay can lead to complications like fillings. If not treated, in extreme circumstances your teeth might have to be removed. This underlines the importance of keeping your teeth and gums healthy. If left untreated, gum disease can cause bone loss around the teeth. You can keep this under control through regular check ups with professionals like the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, where you can engage in cleaning sessions. What’s most important is you maintain a regular teeth brushing routine.
Maintaining Good Oral Health
Keeping your mouth healthy with simple routines can help prevent dental problems. This can be broken down into the following:
- Brush your teeth last thing at night and once during the day.
- Clean between the teeth using “interdental” brushes or floss.
- Adopt good eating habits, avoiding sugary foods.
What is Plaque and What Causes It?
Plaque is a thin film of bacteria that forms on your teeth. Foods containing sugar can cause plaque build up, which produces acid that attacks tooth enamel. Plaque is a sticky substance which keeps acid in constant contact with your teeth. This can cause enamel to break down and form a hole or cavity.
Preventing Gum Disease
Removing plaque formed from bits of food can keep your teeth healthy. This stops the gums becoming inflamed and swollen. When plaque hardens on your teeth, it can form tartar. This can only be removed by your dental team. To prevent gum disease, regular appointments with your dentist are vital because they can perform a thorough clean for you, while identifying other issues.
Changing Your Toothbrush Regularly
A worn out toothbrush serves little purpose. It’s ineffective for cleaning, and can damage your gums. Change your toothbrush every two to three months, or when the filaments become worn. When bristles are splayed, your toothbrush won’t clean your teeth properly.
Addressing Your Diet
Sugar is a leading contributor to bad teeth. It can take up to an hour for your mouth to cancel out acid formed from eating sugary substances. Your teeth will be under constant attack during this time. Limit your sugary food and drink intake, while chewing sugar free gum between meals. Sugary drinks can cause dental erosion, where acid gradually wears away the enamel coating of the teeth. This can lead to teeth becoming sensitive, meaning the avoidance of fizzy drinks, fruit juices, and sport drinks is advisable.
Improving Self-Confidence
A confident smile will be more genuine. As your self-confidence improves, you’ll smile more regularly. A great way to address why you’re not smiling as much is by figuring out why you lack self-confidence. If you’re insecure about your teeth, utilizing the tips outlined in this article will help you no end. Additionally, focus on the feelings that are leading to a lack in self-confidence. By addressing these anxieties, your self-perception will improve. With a higher self-esteem, you can produce a genuine smile which shows off your newly improved teeth.