Your smile says a lot about you. For one thing, it lets people know how well you take care of your teeth. Maintaining healthy teeth is important for a lot of reasons and having a great smile is only just one. It’s a vital part to having a long, healthy life.
Though some people can become tired or lazy when it comes to taking care of their oral health, it is one of those things that you need to constantly look after.
Keep reading to learn about 5 essential tips to maintaining healthy teeth.
1) Use Fluoride
Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in practically all water sources. It strengthens your tooth enamel and fights off cavities.
There are many ways to introduce fluoride to your teeth. The most popular method is using fluoride toothpaste. You should brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste in order to help maintain strong, healthy teeth.
Also read: 12 Reasons Why Your Gums Bleed When Brushing The Teeth
Other popular methods include fluoridated water and mouthwash. The introduction of fluoride to community water systems has led to a significant drop in cavities among children. Close to 5.8 million people in England currently receive water with fluoride.
2) Brush Your Tongue
Brushing your teeth is extremely important to maintaining healthy teeth and most people know to do it daily. Unfortunately, many people neglect another major part of their mouth: the tongue.
Your tongue is a breeding ground for plaque-enabling bacteria. If you don’t take proper care of it, the bacteria can spread to your teeth and cause them to rot. Luckily, taking care of your tongue is easy. All you have to do is take your toothbrush and brush your tongue back and forth, then side to side, and then rinse with water.
3) Floss
Flossing is a crucial step for keeping your teeth clean and strong. When you floss, you are removing debris and leftover food. This prevents plaque buildup, which is important because plaque causes cavities. If plaque is left in your mouth for a long time, it can even lead to gum disease. Flossing is also believed to help fight heart disease, as oral health affects the whole body.
4) Visit A Good Dentist
No matter how well you may brush and floss your teeth, self-care is still not enough to keep your teeth completely healthy and plaque free. Dentists use special tools and are well trained so that they can combat whatever problems may be going on inside your mouth.
Regular checkups with your dentist will help decrease the chances that you’ll experience problems in the future. Finding the right dentist can be tricky and it’s helpful to read reviews and testimonials. Dentists who have won special awards in their fields, like the winner of best practice in the UK, are worth looking into.
5) Limit Sugary Drinks
The sugar found in your food and drinks is a major contributor to tooth decay. The sugars combine with the bacteria already in your mouth and create acid. This acid erodes your teeth over time and can cause significant health issues.
Instead of drinking beverages that are high in sugar like soda, you should instead opt for drinks such as water or unsweetened tea.
How to Take Care of Your Teeth?
Making sure that your teeth remain healthy and strong is not that difficult, but it does take getting into the habit. The effort is worth it! If you don’t take care of your teeth, you will likely experience serious health issues.
Take a little bit of extra time and make sure that you are treating your teeth with the care and respect they deserve. After all, it’s the best way to have a great looking smile.