We all know that we should be brushing and flossing our teeth, but there is more to it than just those two things. One of the most important aspects of dental health is what you put into your mouth. What you eat and drink has a big effect on your oral health, leading to bigger problems such as tooth decay or gum disease over time if not taken care of properly. This blog post will discuss eight steps to help improve your dental health to live a healthier life.
1. Brush your Teeth Three Times a Day
Brushing your teeth is the number one thing you can do to keep them healthy and clean. It’s recommended that adults should brush their teeth for two full minutes twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed at night. If you’re brushing correctly, you will want to make sure that you are brushing along all of your teeth and gums, not just the areas on your teeth that are visible to you. You can also brush more than twice a day if needed – toothpaste doesn’t harm your teeth, so you don’t have to worry about using too much of it!
2. Floss Daily
It’s important to floss daily to get rid of excess food that can get trapped between your teeth. If food stays on your teeth for too long, it will turn into plaque and tartar, leading to more serious problems such as gum disease and tooth decay. For some people, flossing is difficult and uncomfortable, but we suggest changing the way you hold it or trying different floss types to make it a little easier.
3. Watch What You Eat and Drink
Cavities are the most common health problem that people with teeth have to deal with, and they can be prevented by watching what you eat and drink. Foods high in sugar, such as candy or regular soda, can cause cavities because bacteria forms on them from the sugar. It would be best if you also tried to avoid sticky foods that can get stuck in your teeth all day, leading to cavities. Water is always the best drink of choice!
Smoking and drinking alcohol can put you at a greater risk for tooth decay and gum disease. It’s important to stop smoking if you do currently smoke because it causes stains on your teeth and burns up the vitamin C in your body, which is good for keeping teeth healthy. If you find that stopping isn’t an option, try to cut down your smoking or drinking instead.
4. Brush Your Tongue Too
Did you know that you are supposed to brush your tongue too? The back of the tongue has a lot of bacteria on it that mouths prefer not to have. Brushing your tongue will help get rid of any extra bacteria and also give you better smelling breath! Just like brushing your teeth, make sure that you brush along the back of your tongue as well as the front. When you brush your teeth, be sure to brush your tongue as well because this will help keep all parts of your mouth clean and healthy.
5. Make Regular Appointments with your Dentist
We recommend seeing the dentist austin tx every six months for a checkup and cleaning. If you are having problems with your teeth, then you should come in more frequently. They will be able to identify any problems developing early on and take care of them before they become worse. If you’re not currently seeing a dentist regularly, try setting up an appointment every six months so they can check the health of your teeth.
6. Use a Mouth Rinse
Using a mouth rinse can help kill any extra leftover bacteria after brushing, and it will also lower the risk of cavities. Just like flossing and brushing your teeth, make sure to use this at least twice a day because it can be very beneficial for keeping your smile healthy! There are many types of mouth rinse on the market to choose from, and we suggest trying out a few different ones until you find one that you like.
7. Wear a Mouth Guard or Night Guard
If you play contact sports or are involved with activities that lead to frequent accidents involving your teeth, then wearing a mouthguard can be very important. Mouthguards protect your teeth from breaking and help prevent damage to the jaw area as well. If you grind your teeth at night (which not many people will admit to doing), then you should also wear a nightguard. If you grind your teeth at night, it can damage them over time and lead to cavities or other problems.
8. Avoid Energy Drinks
Energy drinks have a lot of sugar in them, and they can cause cavities, just like candy or soda. It would be best to limit yourself from drinking too many energy drinks because it will affect your teeth and health overall. If you’re going to drink an energy drink, it’s best to brush your teeth right after drinking it. Otherwise, you will be at a greater risk for cavities because of the sugar and acidity in them.
Conclusion
Keeping your mouth healthy is very important for preventing other problems in your body. Your teeth are the only ones you have, so try making sure you take care of them well! Many helpful home remedies can help keep your mouth functioning correctly, but you should also make regular appointments with dentist austin tx every six months or so. You are welcome to contact us if you need any further assistance.