There are two main, well-known points about keeping your smile healthy that most people easily recognize – brushing and flossing your teeth every day, and visiting your dentist regularly. Despite being well-known, however, not everyone practices consistently good hygiene every day, or attends every dental checkup and cleaning appointment that their dentists recommend. In fact, lack of consistently good care between checkups and cleanings are one of the biggest factors in the development of things like tooth decay and gum disease. To help you avoid such issues, we take a look at a few important tips for taking better care of your teeth between your regularly scheduled checkup and cleaning appointments.
Practicing good hygiene at home
Good hygiene is the most important proactive thing you can do for your smile. That means brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once – every day. If you skip brushing your teeth or flossing between them even once, it won’t take long for the plaque that has formed on your teeth to harden into tartar. At that point, your toothpaste and toothbrush will no longer be able to remove the bacteria that the biofilm holds. The longer tartar remains on your teeth, or the more of it that’s allowed to form, the greater your risks of developing chronic dental issues will be.
Eating with your teeth in mind
Your eating habits play a big role in your oral health, and many people realize this to at least some degree. For example, you may remember being warned not to eat too much sugar or you’ll be more likely to develop cavities. The relationship between food and your teeth goes much deeper than that, though. For instance, healthy teeth need plenty of minerals and nutrients to stay strong. They also rely on a strong and healthy jawbone, which you can only maintain by eating plenty of bone-building calcium and other vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. In addition to refraining from too much sugar consumption, be sure to also include plenty of healthy vegetables, fruits, and dairy in your diet.
Keeping an eye out for warning signs
Proactively giving your teeth the fuel they need to stay strong and routinely removing harmful oral bacteria are key to keeping your smile healthy and free of dental disease. However, there are no guarantees that you’ll never experience a problem, so it’s equally important to keep an eye out for warning signs that something is wrong. If you develop a toothache, notice your gums becoming red or inflamed, or see spots of blood when you brush and floss, then don’t hesitate to schedule a visit with your dentist as soon as possible to find out why and address it.
Learn how to take better care of your teeth
Taking good care of your teeth means more than just brushing and flossing them once in a while. For more information, schedule an appointment or initial consultation by calling Advanced Dental Concepts in Auburn Hills, MI today at (248) 852-1820.
