Good oral health can make a big difference as far as your general body health goes. It can also boost your self-esteem and improve your social life a lot. Read on to see five tips you can use to make sure that your oral health stays on the right track.
1. Brush and Floss Regularly
The very first tip to help you maintain good oral health is to make sure that you brush and floss regularly. Once when you wake up and once before bed is the best practice, as the American Dental Association recommends that people should brush their teeth twice a day. When you brush, use toothpaste with fluoride in it to get the best protection for your teeth and ensure that you’ve gotten rid of bacteria and plaque that could cause you issues down the road.
2. Use the Correct Toothbrush
To make sure that you’re getting the full benefits of brushing your teeth, make sure to use the right toothbrush. This should be one with soft bristles that won’t injure your gum but will remove accumulated dirt from the teeth. If you wear braces, you may need a special type of toothbrush, so ask your dental health care provider about it and follow their recommendations. Don’t forget to change your toothbrush once after every three months or when the bristles get stiff, so you can be sure that you’re effectively getting your teeth clean.
3. Avoid Excessive Sugar
Prevention is another great way to keep your oral health in good form. To this end, avoid consuming excessive sugar as this provides an environment in which bacteria can thrive and wreak havoc on your teeth. For instance, consuming energy drinks like Monster®, Rockstar, and Red Bull® was found by experts to result in twice as much loss of enamel as exposure to sports drinks like Propel®, Gatorade®, and Powerade® with a ratio of 3.1% to 1.5%. Minimize the number of sugary drinks and snacks that you consume so you can bring down your likelihood of suffering from damaged teeth and gums.
4. Eat a Healthy Diet
As your teeth grow based on your diet, it’s a good idea to eat a healthy meal every time and make sure it has ingredients that will foster good oral health. Try your best to cook at home so you can use the best ingredients possible. Minimize starchy foods in favor of fruits, nuts, dairy, lean proteins, and veggies, which will serve to improve your oral health. Also, make sure to drink a lot of water, which will have the effect of washing off any troublesome and sticky foodstuffs from your teeth. When you do this, you will be fortifying your teeth and gums from the root and ensuring that you have a good chance of growing a mouthful of healthy teeth.
5. Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Finally, make sure to visit your dentist regularly to improve your oral health. This is because, at each appointment with your dentist, they will be able to tell you if and how to improve your oral health care routine. They will also spot and easily fix any issues that may have started to develop before they worsen. This will have you spend less on remedying oral issues and you will also feel less pain as you won’t have to carry around problematic teeth for a long time and endure the issues that they cause. Orthodontic treatment usually begins between ages eight and 14 because abnormal bites normally become noticeable between six and 12 years of age. This means that it’s advisable to start the journey of good oral health care from an early age and walk with a good oral health care provider.
Follow the five tips above and share them with your family so you can enjoy the beauty of healthy, bright smiles!
