Caring for your teeth on a daily basis is critical to oral health and well-being. Being sure that you are doing everything that is necessary to maintain the health of your mouth and your teeth specifically is important. Many people are missing the necessary steps they could be taking each day to ensure that they keep dental disease and tooth decay out of the picture.
If you need preventive care and advice about your oral health, the dentist in Buckhead can provide these services and so much more!
Effective and Health Ways to Care for Your Teeth Each Day
Healthy gums are pink and don’t bleed readily. Healthy teeth are clean and will be far less likely to get cavities. Make sure that you do a visual assessment of your teeth and gums each day and take the following actions. Children and adults both need to brush and floss each day to help maintain gum and tooth health properly.
Floss At Least Once Per Day
Flossing is one of the best ways to prevent cavities and tooth decay between teeth. You can also improve your breath and keep bacterial overgrowth at bay by flossing just once a day. If you have time to floss twice a day, this is even more ideal!
Brushing teeth removes most of the bacteria and potential remaining food from your teeth. Flossing can reach the areas that your toothbrush cannot access. You can also invest in a Waterpik device to make sure that you are able to clean the areas between teeth without having to use floss.
Brush Twice a Day With a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush
Always make sure to brush a minimum of twice a day. If you have the time or access to a space to brush your teeth during your work or school day, you should aim to brush your teeth after every meal. Tooth decay is caused by sugars and acidic foods and drinks remaining on your teeth for extended periods of time. That is why frequent brushing is so important to your oral well-being.
Make sure that you are using a soft toothbrush as well to prevent problems with gum recession or damage to other soft tissues in your mouth. If you are using an electric toothbrush, be sure that you have it set to brush on the lowest intensity and that you are changing out your toothbrush head per the recommendations of the manufacturer.
Replace Toothbrushes and Toothbrush Heads Regularly
Your standard toothbrush will need to be replaced as soon as the bristles start to show bending or wear and tear. These toothbrushes last about two months in most cases. If you are using an electric toothbrush, we are sure that you change out or replace the toothbrush heads on a regular basis as well.
Check the manual for your electric toothbrush to see how long the heads for your particular device are intended to last. It can be easy to think that these attachments are still good when they have aged far past their expected lifespan.
Avoid Sweets and Sugary Drinks
Most cavities are caused by sugars. This means that monitoring your intake of sugary foods and drinks like candy and soda can help to promote a healthier mouth and healthier teeth. You should also make an effort to brush your teeth right after eating or drinking these kinds of items so that the sugar on your teeth is removed right away. While it can be hard to avoid sugary foods at all times, you can protect your teeth by limiting these items in your diet.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy diet that is free from processed food and sugary items can go a long way toward keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Make sure to eat enough of each food group and to eat three balanced meals. This can help prevent snacking, which often leads us to eat foods that are bad for our oral health.
Children should eat a healthy diet just like adults in order to prevent tooth decay. Even baby teeth can suffer damage due to sugary foods and other dietary issues.
Don’t Smoke
Cigarettes and nicotine products are very hard on your oral health and can lead to gum disease as well as cavities and other problems with your teeth. If you are currently a smoker, you can improve your oral health by quitting as soon as possible. If you have never smoked, avoiding picking up this habit will make it much less likely that you will struggle with dental issues in the future.
Schedule Regular Check-ups and Cleanings With Your Dentist
Caring for your teeth is essential at home, but you also need to make sure that you are seeing a dentist on a regular basis for cleanings and oral health evaluations. Skilled dental attention can prevent problems with your teeth and ensure that cavities and other potential dental health issues are dealt with right away.
Dental cleaning services are essential to remove plaque and tartar buildup that can lead to dental decay and to make sure that you are aware of potential changes to your oral health. Routine exams include regular X-rays and evaluation of your gum health, as well as cleaning services to ensure that your teeth are not being impacted by the food and drinks that you consume on a daily basis.
Caring For Your Teeth Properly is Essential to Protect Your Oral Health
Caring for your teeth correctly every day is the key to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Using these tips will ensure that your teeth and your gums are healthy all year long. Make sure to schedule cleanings and dental exams throughout the year for you and your children as well. Your dentist can catch potential issues with your teeth and gums before they become major problems that lead to cavities and other issues.