Cleaning your teeth every day is a good start, but there is more you could be doing to keep your smile healthy. Take a look at these five top tips, and then start putting them into action to see the difference they can make to the state of your smile.
1. Kick the cigarettes
You probably already know that smoking affects your lungs, but did you know that it can also cause serious oral health problems? Quitting will lower your risk of developing gum disease, and your teeth should also look whiter once they are no longer being stained with nicotine.
2. Develop better brushing habits
Do you know how to brush your teeth correctly? A surprising number of people don’t. You need to angle your toothbrush at about 45 degrees to your gum line and gently make circles on the surfaces of your teeth with the head. And don’t rush! You should spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth.
3. Floss every day
Unfortunately, brushing alone is not enough to keep your teeth clean and healthy. You also need to floss to remove particles of food from between your teeth and therefore prevent bacteria from growing there.
4. Improve your diet to improve your dental health
A healthy diet is high in calcium, contains plenty of fresh vegetables, and is low in sugar. Try to swap some of your snacks for healthier options, for example by replacing a sugar-laden chocolate bar with fresh baby carrots and hummus.
You also need to pay attention to what you drink. Cola and other soda drinks are the worst offenders, as the acids they contain can cause a lot of damage to tooth enamel. On the other hand, coffee, tea and wine can stain your teeth, causing them to look discoloured and unhealthy. Water is the healthiest drink for your teeth, and you should make sure you consume plenty of it every day to avoid dehydration.
5. Don’t avoid the dentist
The longer you put off going to the dentist, the more likely you are to need treatment when you finally make an appointment. A single deep cleaning session in the dentist’s chair can remove months of plaque build-up, preventing bacteria from growing out of control in your mouth and causing dental decay. And filling a small cavity now can prevent it from growing into a large cavity later. Preventative treatments have a large role to play in keeping your smile healthy, so make sure you don’t put off making that dental appointment.
The post 5 Tips for a Healthier Smile: How to Improve Your Dental Health appeared first on Enhance Dental Centre.