Do you want to keep your teeth healthy but aren’t sure what improvements to make? Maybe you think your current routine isn’t doing enough. If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Oral hygiene affects your health in several ways. But to maintain it, you might have to go beyond regularly brushing.
It depends on your case, but it helps to know how to practice optimal dental care. So, here are five tips to help you begin a new routine!
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1. Remember to Floss When You Brush
While brushing your teeth goes without saying, most people overlook the habit of flossing. You might think you can pass it up after brushing, but this isn’t exactly the case.
There are places your toothbrush can’t reach, regardless of how hard or what angle you brush. Although they remove most dirt and plaque, you could still have bits left in your teeth. That’s where floss comes into play!
It allows you to remove bacteria stuck between your teeth and gumline. Besides ensuring oral health, it also makes you feel more refreshed.
Additionally, you should be wary of what you use when you brush and floss to be sure of the cause of tooth damage. You want a soft-bristle toothbrush and sturdy floss, waxed or unwaxed.
Dispose of floss upon use, but with toothbrushes, many suggest replacing it every three to four months. It helps you prevent them from excessive wear and fraying.
2. Consume a Healthier and Balanced Diet
Your diet plays a role in dental care. But instead of changing your eating habits, it focuses on being wary of what you consume.
Most experts recommend limiting the amount of sugary and acidic food you eat. These can cause your teeth to decay and strip off their enamel, causing them to become prone to damage and discoloration.
At the same time, you want to lessen how much you consume teeth-staining drinks. Some examples include tea, coffee, wine, and selected fruit juice. Remember, it doesn’t mean you should avoid them completely, but it helps to limit how often you drink them.
You also want to consider consuming healthier meals and balancing your diet with enough fruit and vegetables. Some food that improves oral health include fatty fish, citrus fruits, dairy products, and more.
The following are a few more components you want to include when choosing food for better dental health:
Calcium
Calcium strengthens your teeth and bones, preventing cavity growth and other injuries. You can usually find them in dairy products, like milk, cheese, yogurt, and more.
Phosphorous
A good substitute or addition to calcium is phosphorous since it makes the same impact. Foods you want to consider that are rich in phosphorous include eggs, nuts, fish, and lean meats.
Vitamin C
If you want to improve gum health, consider incorporating vitamin C into your usual diet. Citrus fruits are the most popular source of this nutrient, but you can also find it in potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, and other veggies.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps with enamel growth in your teeth and signals your body to absorb the calcium you consume. So, it’s vital to consume food rich in this nutrient. Most dairy contains vitamin D, as well as mushrooms, tofu, and fish.
Magnesium
Magnesium is another nutrient that strengthens tooth enamel and jaw bones. You can get your fill from whole grain foods like rice, corn, oats, wheat, and more. Fruits, vegetables, and nuts are also good sources.
3. Keep Yourself Hydrated
You want to stay hydrated throughout the day to maintain your teeth and gum health.
By drinking more water, you constantly flush bacteria and other harmful particles from your teeth. So, you can think of it as a way to naturally cleanse your mouth. It also decreases the chances of bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease.
Note that you can still consume flavored drinks to keep yourself hydrated. But if so, it’s best to avoid those that contain high sugar content. Instead, you can replace them with honey and other natural sweeteners or drink them unsweetened.
Moreover, drinking water affects your overall health in several ways, like regulating body temperature and improving your skin. And so, you can enjoy various health benefits when you practice proper hydration.
4. Schedule Regular Dentist Visits
You can always check on yourself to ensure you have no issues with your oral health at home. Even so, it’s best to schedule regular visits to the dentist.
Home remedies are a good way to monitor what happens with your teeth. But to get a proper dental care assessment, you should have an expert check.
A dentist can detect issues you normally can’t tell. If you regularly visit, you can address those problems before they get worse.
Most recommend getting a dental check up at least once or twice a year. You also want to schedule cleaning, X-rays, and other basic treatments to maintain dental health.
5. Avoid Unhealthy Teeth Habits
If you start with healthy teeth, avoiding harmful habits is the key to protecting them from damage. In most cases, it includes smoking, using toothpicks too often, grinding your teeth, or brushing too hard.
Your teeth and gums are more sensitive than they look, so you should be gentle and sensitive with how you handle them. This way, you don’t find yourself accidentally damaging them.
Moreover, you may want to consider using helpful dental products. Fluoride toothpaste and dental sealants are a few examples you should note. These help restore teeth enamel and protect your teeth from bacteria.
If you consider adding them to your dental care measures, it’s good to contact a professional for advice. This ensures you follow proper practices and prevents your teeth from further unintentional damage.
Practice Optimal Dental Care to Maintain Healthy Teeth and Gums
Optimal dental care involves regular dental hygiene, good eating habits, healthy oral practices, and frequent dental visits. You can enjoy a lifetime of fresh and beautiful teeth when you add them to your daily routine!
For further knowledge, please peruse the remainder of our blog.
