Did you know that about 42.7% of US adults over 30 suffer from gum disease?
Not a very pretty statistic, considering that your smile is the first thing people notice about you when they first meet you. That’s why it is important to contact this dentist in redwood city for regular check-ups. While scheduling dental visits is a no-brainer for most, it’s easy to overlook proper dental care.
Not taking care of our teeth is bad for our dental health and affects our overall health. So how can we keep our dental health in check and maintain lovely smiles?
Well, keep reading to find out because today, we’ll be highlighting a few amazing tips for proper dental care.
- Brush Your Teeth
The first and most important dental tip is to brush your teeth at least twice a day. If you want, you can brush your teeth after every meal, but twice a day is enough for healthy teeth. As a rule of thumb, every teeth-brushing session should take about two minutes to remove all the plaque.
Plaque is an invisible film of bacteria that forms on our teeth when we don’t brush them. Whenever you eat starchy foods, the bacteria consume them and produce acid as a by-product. This acid is what corrodes our teeth’s enamel and causes dental cavities.
Brushing your teeth twice a day will ensure you eliminate all the bacteria from your teeth. Doing so is important for maintaining healthy teeth and gums.
- Flossing Daily
Aside from brushing your teeth, you should also floss at least once a day. That’s because your toothbrush can’t get to the hard-to-reach areas between your teeth. This means plaque can accumulate between these spaces and cause cavities.
Dental floss gets in between the teeth to remove any plaque that may be there. To floss properly:
- Take about 18 inches of dental floss
- Wind the floss around both middle fingers
- Use your thumb and pointing finger to insert the floss in between your teeth till it reaches the gum level
- Pull the floss against your teeth to form a C-shape
- Gently move the floss up and down your teeth
Do the same for each tooth, and you’ll have no plaque in between your teeth. Make sure you get every tooth, including the ones in the back.
- Don’t Forget Your Tongue
It’s easy to overlook your tongue after brushing and flossing your teeth, but remember that it’s the main source of bad breath. It also harbors a ton of bacteria that compromise our oral health. That said, always remember to brush your tongue after brushing your teeth.
If the toothbrush isn’t good enough, consider getting a tongue scraper to clean your tongue. A tongue scraper works better and removes the white coating that forms on most people’s tongues.
- Use the Right Toothbrush
You need to be a little more selective with your toothbrush for proper dental health. Buying the first toothbrush you see, or the prettiest one, won’t do you much good. There are many things you need to consider when getting the right toothbrush.
First, you want a toothbrush with an average-sized head. A large toothbrush head may make brushing uncomfortable, while a small one won’t reach all the spots. You also want a toothbrush with soft bristles, so it doesn’t hurt your gums.
It’s okay to experiment with a few toothbrushes until you find the perfect one for your teeth. Don’t forget to clean your toothbrush after brushing your teeth to remove any bacteria that clings onto the bristles.
- Use Mouthwash Regularly
Apart from brushing and flossing, you should also start rinsing your mouth with mouthwash. Mouthwash also helps reduce the bacteria in your mouth responsible for cavities and gum disease.
For the best results, buy mouthwash that contains fluoride. Fluoride will strengthen your teeth’s enamel and increase their protection against corrosion. Also, look for mouthwash that contains “antimicrobial” or “antigingivitis” on the label because it means the mouthwash helps fight mouth bacteria.
- Cut Down on Smoking
Smoking is bad for your overall and dental health. Cigarettes contain nicotine and tar that your teeth readily absorb. These substances can stain your teeth yellow or brown and ruin your Hollywood smile.
What’s more, habitual smokers are more likely to develop oral and throat cancer. These are potentially fatal conditions that could end your life. To make it worse, smoking hinders the body’s natural healing ability against these cancers and other diseases.
To be on the safe side, reduce your cigarette smoking or let go of the habit completely. In the case of tooth discoloration, you can visit a Lexington dentist for dental cleanings and whitening.
- Avoid Sugary and Starchy Foods
Most people love digging their teeth into candy bars and other delicious confections. They taste great, but they’re definitely not good for your teeth.
As mentioned above, bacteria in the mouth love sugary and starchy foods. The more candy and cupcakes you eat, the more you feed this bacteria. Sooner or later, you’ll be paying your dentist an uncalled visit.
For proper dental health, consider cutting down on the amount of sugary food you eat, especially late-night snacks. It’s a worthwhile sacrifice for a beautiful smile.
Proper Dental Care Equals a Lovely Smile
Put the above dental care tips into practice for healthy teeth and gums. Remember, these tips only count if you’re consistent with your dental care habits. Also, don’t forget to pay your dentist a visit at least once every six months.
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