Many people believe that maintaining a healthy smile consists of only brushing your teeth and flossing. Even though some of this is partially true, there are many other factors that incorporate to a healthy mouth. If you have poor oral hygiene it can lead to a variety of dental issues such as gum and heart disease and more!
Having a great oral health isn’t hard, but it does take consistency and a great regimen to keep it in great shape. It also consists of going to your dental professional two times a year to keep up with your oral health and maintaining with follow-ups. Follow these steps below in order to have great and healthy teeth.
1. Don’t Smoke –
Smoking is one of the worst habits you can do for your teeth and is the top contributor to severe dental issues. Some of the problems that can develop from the act of smoking are oral cancer, gum disease, and tooth decay. The habit of smoking also causes your immune system to have to work harder and slow down the healing if you’ve had a surgery.
Smoking also causes your teeth to become stained and creates tartar build-up. Also, if you dislike having bad breath, tobacco may be the culprit in promoting it. In addition, smoking causes many diseases throughout the body and decreases your life expectancy.
The effects of smoking do not only affect your gums, they can affect your overall health. Some of the consequences include:
- Tooth discoloration
- Gland inflammation
- Lung cancer
- Premature birth and ectopic pregnancy
- Triggering asthma
- Death
- Coronary heart disease
- Bladder, blood, cervix and colon cancer
- Decreased success rate of dental implants
2. Brush Your Teeth Twice A Day
Brushing your teeth is the most important technique that you can use to maintain a healthy smile. This routine helps remove bad bacteria that can cause gingivitis or bad breath. Brushing your pearly whites also limits plaque build-up along the gumline. It’s important to use specific techniques to ensure that you are cleaning your teeth correctly.
First, start by placing your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle along the gums and teeth. In a rotating motion, scrub your teeth using wide strokes. It’s imperative that you get every tooth. Make sure to brush for at least 2 minutes.
3. Make Flossing A Habit –
If you want to remove the bacteria from within your mouth to prevent it from seeping into the body, then you must floss. What many people don’t realize is that flossing your teeth plays an integral role in your overall dental health because there are places in the mouth a toothbrush can’t reach. However, a strand of floss can reach the hard to reach places and remove the bacteria that causes tartar and plaque build-up.
According to Health.com, regularly flossing your teeth can do more than keeping your teeth shiny, it can prevent serious bodily diseases such as heart disease. Dental professionals constantly advise their patients to floss anytime that they brush their teeth. This way they can avoid bacteria build-up along the gum lines, which in time can cause further complications.
There are many techniques that are used to floss your teeth. The most basic one is wrapping 18-24 inches of dental floss at each end of your index or middle finger. Gently work in between each tooth and make sure that you go beneath the gum line. Keep using the clean sections of the floss and move on to the next tooth.
4. Incorporate Milk In Your Diet –
The calcium within milk is the best component for building strong bones in your body. According to the National Institute of Health, 99% of the calcium in your body is stored in the teeth and the bones. Health professionals suggest that you should consume around 100 – 1300mg of calcium a day in order to stay on a good track. One cup of milk alone has almost 300 mg of calcium within it.
If you have children, it is important that they drink a large amount of milk. Not only does it make their teeth and bones stronger, it helps them grow. If you don’t like milk or if you are intolerant to it, there are plenty of foods that contain calcium that would make an excellent addition to your diet.
- Sardines
- Broccoli
- Box Choy
- Almonds
- Soy products
- Okra
5. Fluoride Toothpaste –
Next time you shop for a toothpaste, choose one that contains fluoride. Fluoride prevents tooth decay and makes teeth more resistant to acid and plaque build-up in the mouth. This type of toothpaste also helps to prevent receding gums and periodontitis. According to Colgate fluoride helps reduce cavities and it also assists in developing the enamel when teeth are beginning to appear.
Fluoride is naturally found in water and for the past several decade’s fluoride levels have been added into the public water system to prevent tooth decay. When shopping for a toothpaste make sure that it includes fluoride and that it has the American Dental Association stamped on the front.
6. Mouthwash Use –
If you want to keep all areas of the mouth clean and healthy, using a mouthwash is imperative. A mouthwash will provide many added benefits to your oral health. It helps freshen up your breath, prevents plaque build-up and kills germs that can lead to gum disease. Rinsing with a mouthwash will keep your tongue clean and the roof of your mouth and gums free from bacteria.
7. Make An Appointment Today –
Dr. Devang Shah and his staff at Dentist Dacula in Georgia are dedicated to helping you maintain a great smile. If you have further questions on how to maintain great oral health contact us today. Dr. Devang Shah will answer any concerns that you may have during your appointment.
