In the United States, more than 25% of adults have untreated tooth decay, and nearly half of adults show signs of gum disease. If you don’t have good oral health habits, it’s more likely that you’ll experience some of these oral health problems.
Do you want to learn more about healthy teeth? Keep reading to find out the best practices to maintain healthy gums, teeth, and good oral health!
Use Fluoride
One of the best practices for healthy teeth is to use fluoride. It’s a naturally occurring mineral that comes from rocks. It’s known to help fight cavities because it strengthens your enamel.
This means that your teeth will be more resistant to harsh acids and other bacteria that cause tooth decay. While fluoride is in almost all natural water, it isn’t concentrated enough to help your teeth. If you want to add fluoride to your healthy teeth practices, you can buy toothpaste or mouthwash that has fluoride in it.
Because fluoride is so beneficial to people of every age, many communities add fluoride in the water to make it more concentrated. If this isn’t the case, you can even get fluoride supplements or you can ask your dentist to apply fluoride to your teeth during your dental visits.
Brush and Floss
While it may seem like an obvious answer, the most important thing you can do to maintain healthy teeth and healthy gums is to brush and floss your teeth. If you don’t, you’ll get a buildup of plaque and other bacteria that can eventually lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
When you floss, you remove food and other types of buildup that get between your teeth. All dentists recommend that you floss daily so you can clean the hard-to-reach spaces between your teeth. While brushing your teeth is a great habit, you need to pair it with flossing.
Flossing is just as important as brushing your teeth. If you don’t floss, your teeth will not be cleaned as effectively.
As was mentioned before, you need to brush your teeth twice a day. This can help remove the bacteria on your teeth. However, toothbrushes cannot reach many areas of your teeth. By coupling flossing and brushing your teeth, you will be able to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
Not only do you need to brush your teeth twice a day, but you also need to learn how to brush your teeth properly. Make sure you take your time when brushing your teeth and move your toothbrush in circular motions. It is also vital that you remember to brush your tongue.
Many people don’t realize that their tongue plays a big part in their oral health. You can get plaque and other bacteria buildup on your tongue, so make sure you brush it when you brush your teeth. This can also help improve any bad breath that you may have.
Visit Your Dentist
It’s also vital to visit your dentist at least once a year. Even if you have young children, it’s important to get regular dental check-ups and develop good habits.
When you visit the dentist, they will examine your teeth. Not only will this help you know how you can improve your oral hygiene, but your dentist can also help you detect cavities before they become big issues! This will save you money in the long run and will make it easier to treat any cavities you have.
Visiting your dentist can also help you catch serious problems, like oral cancer. Dentists are trained to look for the signs of it, which is especially common in people who use tobacco. When you catch cancer in its early stages, it’s much easier to treat and may even save your life.
Routine dental care is a vital aspect of maintaining your oral health and having healthy teeth.
Alter Your Diet
When you have poor oral health, there are some things that you can remove from your diet to improve it. As was mentioned before, smoking or using any tobacco products can be bad for your mouth.
When you smoke, it can cause yellow teeth, bad breath, excess plaque, and even gum disease. If you stop smoking and cut out tobacco products, you can make it easier to maintain healthy teeth.
Alcohol is also linked to oral diseases and staining.
It may also benefit you to cut out things that stain your teeth. Some common tooth-staining things are coffee, soda, and even tomato-based sauces. Eliminating these things will prevent staining on your teeth and can help you achieve a whiter and more beautiful smile.
Drink More Water
An easy way to improve your oral health is to drink more water, especially after you eat a meal! This can help rinse your teeth from acidic foods and drinks and can help protect your enamel.
By drinking water, you’ll dilute the acids in your teeth and this can prevent the unnecessary buildup of plaque and tartar!
Find a Reliable Dentist to Help Maintain Your Healthy Teeth
Developing good oral health practices can be difficult if you don’t know where to start. However, when you find a reliable dentist that teaches you good practices, it becomes much easier to have healthy teeth.
Are you looking for a dentist in Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks, California? Newbury Dental Group can help!
We offer dental services, dental procedures, and even cosmetic dental care. Contact our office today to see how we can help you improve your oral health!