Preventative dental care is the best way to protect your teeth and save money. It includes daily oral care, a healthy diet, and regular dental checkups.
Good oral health reduces your risk of cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease. It also lowers your risks of secondary health problems like heart disease, osteoporosis, and respiratory disease.
Brush Daily
While modern dentistry is able to treat any number of dental issues, many of them can be prevented with proper oral hygiene and preventative care. Brushing daily, flossing daily and getting biannual cleanings and checkups will help protect your smile and your overall health.
One of the main reasons that people develop tooth decay is because bacteria that cling to your teeth form a sticky biofilm called plaque. These bacteria eat sugar and produce acids that can erode your enamel, gums and roots. If left untreated, this acid can harden into a substance called tartar. Brushing your teeth twice a day, using fluoride toothpaste and changing out your toothbrush three to four times per year will help remove these harmful bacteria and keep your mouth healthy.
Regular brushing will also help to reduce the risk of tooth discoloration, which is another common sign of unhealthy teeth. There are several natural substances in toothpaste that act as mild abrasives to scrub away surface stains and debris. These include calcium carbonate, dehydrated silica gels, hydrated aluminium oxides, magnesium carbonates and phosphate salts. These abrasives work with the whitening agents in your toothpaste to clean out deep crevices between your teeth and remove stubborn food particles.
A good brushing routine should start in the morning after breakfast and again before you go to bed. You should also try to brush after lunch and before you have a snack in the evening so that any bacteria that accumulated during the day can be removed.
Flossing daily will help to remove food particles and eliminate bacteria that brushing alone may not reach. You should also add a rinse of an anti-bacterial mouthwash to your daily routine to help kill harmful bacteria and eliminate any remaining residue on your teeth.
The foods and drinks you eat can affect your oral health as well, so make sure to eat plenty of fibre-rich fruits and vegetables. These will help to keep your gums and teeth healthy by reducing the amount of sugar that bacteria in your mouth can metabolize. You should also avoid snacks that are high in sugar or starch, such as chips, candy and cookies. Instead, choose healthier options like yogurt, cheese, fruit or green tea.
Floss Daily
We’ve all heard the recommendation to floss daily to reduce tooth decay and gum disease. But there are other surprising benefits of this oral health routine that can have a positive impact on your overall wellness.
Flossing removes the food particles and bacteria that can cause bad breath, and it can also help to prevent gingivitis, which is an early stage of periodontal disease. It also helps to prevent the buildup of plaque, which can harden into tartar if left unattended. Tartar can lead to gum pocketing, which can irritate and damage gums and teeth. Regular flossing can also reduce the risk of heart disease, respiratory ailments, and diabetes regulation.
A dirty mouth provides bacteria and viruses with a playground to wreak havoc in your body, which can contribute to a variety of serious diseases. Keeping your oral health in tip-top shape can improve your general wellbeing and lead to better self-esteem and a healthier lifestyle.
The area where each tooth meets the gums contains a girdle of collagen and fibers that help to seal off that junction, protecting it from bacteria from the outside world. When you don’t floss, you can expose this sensitive tissue to a steady stream of bacteria and sugar, which can trigger an immune response and lead to inflammation over time. This chronic inflammation can also be linked to a range of health issues, including heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer.
Flossing removes the plaque, bacteria, and food particles that can lead to gum disease and a host of other problems. If you’re not sure how to floss properly, ask your dentist for advice or try using a floss threader, which can make it easier to get between the tight spaces of your teeth. In addition, it’s important to replace your toothbrush three or four times per year and to switch to a new one once the bristles start to fray. You should also drink plenty of water and avoid acid-heavy foods like cheese, yogurt, and tomatoes. You can use mouth wash to freshen your breath, and it’s a good idea to floss twice per day and brush at least three times per day.
Get Regular Checkups
Visiting your dentist for regular checkups is an important part of preventative dental care. It helps protect your teeth from disease, and it allows your dentist to catch any oral health problems that you may have before they become serious. Many people regret not going to the dentist earlier when they receive a bad diagnosis, and scheduling regular visits can help you avoid this type of situation.
Your dentist will examine your teeth for signs of gum disease, tooth decay, infection, and other dental health issues. They will also take X-rays of your mouth to identify issues that aren’t visible with the naked eye, such as cavities between your teeth and an impacted tooth or jaw injury.
By catching these issues early, your dentist can begin treatment right away and stop them from progressing into more severe dental health problems. This can save you from having to undergo invasive treatments, which can be costly and painful.
Aside from identifying potential problems, your dentist will also provide you with helpful tips for taking care of your teeth and gums at home. These will include recommendations for a healthy diet, avoiding acidic foods and drinks, and proper brushing and flossing techniques. These are all things that you can do to keep your mouth healthy in between dental checkups, and they will help you protect your teeth and gums for a lifetime of good oral health.
During your appointment, your dentist will be able to tell you how much tartar, plaque, and bacteria are on your teeth. This information will help you determine if you need to brush or floss more often. They will also be able to give you advice about how to change your habits and make healthier choices that will improve your oral health, such as quitting smoking or drinking more water.
Preventative dental care is something that everyone can benefit from. By taking these simple steps, you can protect your teeth from disease and damage, and maintain a bright smile for a lifetime. So remember to brush and floss daily, visit your dentist for regular checkups, and don’t forget to drink plenty of water!
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a balanced diet helps your teeth and gums. A healthy diet includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and low fat dairy. This helps provide the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy and strong, including calcium and phosphorus that help keep teeth and jaw bones strong. It also helps prevent secondary health problems like diabetes and heart disease that are linked to poor oral health.
It’s important to avoid foods that contain sugar, as cavities are caused by bacteria in the mouth eating sugar and producing acids that damage tooth enamel. It’s also best to limit snacks between meals. If you do snack, choose foods that are low in sugar, such as cheese, raw vegetables or a piece of fruit. Drinking water is the best choice for a beverage, as it hydrates and helps wash away food particles in the mouth. Water that is fluoridated provides added protection for your teeth.
A healthy diet also contains lots of vitamin C, which helps fight acid-producing bacteria. Try adding more foods that are high in vitamin C to your diet, such as strawberries, grapefruit, kiwis and limes.
The best way to protect your teeth is to practice preventative dental care by brushing daily, flossing and getting regular checkups and cleanings. Preventative dental care can help you avoid many dental issues, such as gum disease and tooth decay, that require expensive treatments.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more important to take good care of your teeth and gums, as these practices will help prevent infection in your mouth that could lead to serious health problems. It’s also a great time to start developing healthy dental habits in children so they can grow up with good oral hygiene and strong, beautiful teeth. So be sure to brush and floss daily, get regular dental checkups, drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet. Together, these things can help you protect your smile for a lifetime.