One in four adults from the ages of 20 to 64 currently has at least one cavity. However, by developing healthy habits for your oral health, you can prevent problems from coming up in the future.
Do you want to learn more about how you can get healthy teeth and healthy gums? Keep reading to learn 10 healthy habits for good oral health!
1. Brush Your Teeth Slower
One of the first steps you should take to improve your oral health is to brush your teeth more slowly. Many people brush their teeth quickly, making the process less effective.
When you brush your teeth, you’re removing food particles and bacteria, and can prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar. However, when you are rushing and not taking your time, it’s likely that you’ll miss a majority of your tooth and won’t be able to clean the hard-to-reach places of your tooth.
By brushing your teeth slowly, you’ll be able to effectively polish and clean your teeth while getting the best cleaning possible. A good tip is to set a timer for two minutes and brush your teeth for the entire duration.
2. Brush Your Gums
To prevent periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, it’s vital that you brush your gums. However, you don’t want to do this with too much force; otherwise, you can cut your gums.
Begin by softly massaging them with your toothbrush. If you don’t want to use your toothbrush, you can also find brushes that are meant for your gums and won’t scratch them.
If you don’t brush your gums, you may see signs of gum disease in your mouth. These include swollen gums, gums that are bright red, and gums that bleed easily.
If you notice these signs, make sure you talk to your dentist to see if you have periodontal disease.
3. Use a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush
While you may think that a hard bristle toothbrush will clean your teeth more effectively, it’s actually better to find a toothbrush with soft bristles! Hard bristles can scratch your teeth and cause even more damage. They can also hurt your gums.
When you use a soft-bristled toothbrush, you’ll find that it cleans your mouth just as effectively, without hurting your teeth!
4. Choose an Alcohol-Free Mouthwash
Many types of mouthwash include alcohol in them. While it’s good to disinfect your mouth and may remove bacteria, it can also dry out your mouth. This can even cause other bacteria and germs in your mouth to produce much quicker.
You can find alcohol-free mouthwash at any grocery store that’ll effectively clean your mouth without drying it out.
5. Drink More Water
Drinking water is for more than just hydration. In fact, drinking more water can greatly improve your oral health! When you eat acidic foods or drinks, they can damage your enamel.
When you drink water, it helps lower the concentration of these acids, which can protect your teeth. Drinking water can also prevent dry mouth, which is one of the causes of bad breath.
6. Eat Foods That Strengthen Enamel
One thing you can add to your oral health practices is eating foods that help strengthen your enamel! While there are some foods that are acidic and bad for your teeth, there are others that can help strengthen your teeth and prevent cavities.
These include dairy products. Because vitamin D helps strengthen your bones, things like milk, cheese, and yogurt are a great way to strengthen your teeth!
Other good foods for your enamel include nuts, avocados, and even garlic.
7. Take Fluoride Supplements
If you are still worried about your teeth, one thing you can do is begin taking fluoride supplements! These come in many different forms. For example, fluoride can come in capsules, in a gel that your put on your teeth, and even in your toothpaste and mouthwash!
By taking fluoride supplements, you will strengthen your teeth and can prevent cavities from forming in your mouth.
8. Avoid Foods That Hurt Your Teeth
Just as you want to eat foods that strengthen your enamel, there are foods that can hurt your teeth and may lead to cavities.
For example, you want to avoid sugary sweets and drinks. Any kind of soft drink, even those that do not have sugar, contains acid that can cause problems with your teeth.
You also want to avoid wine, eating too much citrus, coffee, and other sugary candies and desserts. These can all cause tooth decay and may lead to tooth stains and other problems in the future.
9. Wait to Brush Your Teeth
Something that many people don’t realize is that you shouldn’t brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking. Because many foods contain acids that soften your enamel, brushing your teeth immediately may damage your enamel.
Instead, it’s better to wait for about 30 minutes to allow the acids in your mouth to neutralize before you brush your teeth.
10. Don’t Neglect Your Tongue
Finally, it’s important that you don’t neglect your tongue when brushing your teeth and gums!
Bacteria on your tongue can lead to tooth decay, gum decay, and even bad breath. When you brush your tongue at least once a day, you can prevent this bacteria from causing any issues in your mouth. Plus, your mouth will smell fresher throughout the day.
Learn More Healthy Habits for Teeth Today
When you learn how to develop healthy habits for your teeth, you’ll be able to improve your oral health and maintain a beautiful smile. By finding a reliable dentist to help you learn more healthy habits, you can protect your teeth and lower your risk of tooth and gum disease.
If you’re looking for a reliable dentist in the Newbury and Thousand Oaks, California areas, Newbury Dental Group can help. Contact us today to learn more about our dental services and to see how we can help you improve your oral health!