When it comes to taking care of the teeth, you can never be inconsistent. Skip a brush or miss the dentist, and you’re a step closer to having dental problems. Of course, toothaches and gum diseases won’t show up right away, but when they do (and they will), they will be at their worst state. The truth is oral hygiene is a lifelong commitment, and a habit you must do every single day. More specifically, these are the things you should make time to achieve healthy teeth:
1. Brush your teeth
It’s the oral care habit people have been doing since they were little. Interestingly, it’s also the habit that’s often done wrong. You can’t just brush your teeth — you have to brush properly. Proper brushing routines help get rid of food debris left in the mouth after eating, preventing the onset of tooth decays and gum diseases.
What exactly does proper brushing mean? It starts with placing your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Use back-and-forth, gentle strokes at the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of the teeth. The entire routine should last for two minutes (or sing the alphabet song to achieve the full two minutes).
2. Use fluoride
A lot of people think that fluoride toothpaste whitens teeth, but the truth is, fluoride strengthens the enamel (the protective layer of the teeth), thus helping prevent tooth decays and other dental problems. If you do want to achieve the perfect pearly whites, though, go for the professional teeth whitening South Bend dentists offer.
Hydrogen peroxide, the active ingredient in gels, is what would make your teeth whiter. To protect your enamel from wearing away (and eventually revealing yellow teeth), go for fluoride treatments. Dentists often apply this chemical as gel, foam, or varnish. They might also prescribe fluoride supplements.
3. Floss the hard-to-reach
A lot of people think that flossing is just an optional routine. If you’re already cleaning your teeth with a brush, you won’t ever need to floss, right? Wrong. While brushing teeth can get rid of food residue, there are still little nooks and crannies in your mouth, especially the spaces between teeth, that couldn’t toothbrush couldn’t brush.
For that, you would then need to floss. When flossing, be gentle on your strokes to avoid cutting or damaging the gums with the swift movement. It’s best to do this routine just before brushing your teeth, especially if you’ve eaten food that has high acidic content, where it’s recommended to wait for at least half an hour before toothbrushing.
4. Eat healthy
A healthy diet results in healthy teeth. If you have the habit of munching on sweets in between meals or during your leisure time, you may have an increased risk to cavities. Sugar can alter the mouth environment, in such a way that it would be more favorable to the build-up of plaque. Try to limit intake of sweets or when you do consume such, rinse your mouth with water right away to get rid of the acids.
Again, oral hygiene is a lifelong, everyday commitment. Stick to these habits for better, healthier teeth.