Top 5 Dental Hygiene Tips for a Brighter Smile
Your smile is one of the first things people see, so it should be as bright and spotless as possible. However, if you’re not taking care of your oral hygiene well enough, your smile could leave a lot to be desired. Fortunately, taking care of your teeth and gums is relatively easy as long as you follow a few simple tips and tricks.
Tip #1: Brush and Floss Teeth Daily
If you ever get a dental checkup, the dentist will stress the importance of brushing and flossing every day. More than anything else, this practice can keep your mouth as healthy as possible. Ideally, you can brush at least twice a day and floss once per day, although doing it after every meal is best.
That said, you want to wait at least 30 minutes to an hour after eating to brush and floss. The reason for this is that your enamel is softened by your saliva while eating, so brushing immediately can scrape off more than just plaque.
Flossing is also essential because it will help keep your gums healthy and prevent cavities and infections. Food particles can get stuck between teeth very easily, and flossing is the only way to get them out effectively.
Tip #2: Reduce Sugar Intake
When it comes to tooth enamel, sugar is one of the worst items you can put on it. While a high sugar intake can lead to various health problems, it can wreak havoc on your teeth.
The problem is that sugar is a fermentable carbohydrate. What this means is that the bacteria in your mouth love to eat the sugar on your teeth, and the byproduct of eating it is a corrosive acid. So, the more sugar you have in your mouth, the more bacteria multiply to eat it, and the more acid gets onto your teeth. Over time, this acid wears away the enamel, creating cavities and tooth decay.
While you shouldn’t necessarily remove all sugar from your diet, make sure to limit how much you have in a day. Also, brushing after a high-sugar meal can help reduce the amount of wear and tear your teeth experience.
Tip #3: Avoid Too Much Coffee
Coffee is almost its own food group, given how many people drink the stuff on a daily basis. Unfortunately, coffee can be bad for your smile for a couple of reasons.
First, depending on the type of coffee you drink, the beverage can be pretty acidic. As a rule, lighter roasts are more acidic than darker ones. Also, the more coffee you drink, the more acid gets onto your teeth.
The second reason to avoid too much coffee is that it can absorb into your enamel, staining your teeth yellow. While the effect isn’t as bad as tobacco from smoking, it can add up over time. Fortunately, brushing and flossing after coffee can reduce these effects so you can still feel energized without sacrificing your smile.
Tip #4: Avoid Smoking
Smoking is one of the worst things you can do to your body, and it’s downright devastating for your oral health. Cigarettes have tons of toxic chemicals and elements in them, which get onto your teeth every time you take a drag. Also, smoking can erode both the teeth and the gums, leading to substantial periodontal disease.
Finally, smoking stains your teeth, and it’s much harder to remove tobacco stains than it is for coffee. Basically, the more you smoke, the worse the damage, and the harder it is to reclaim your smile. Even if you get crowns, bridges, or implants, they can get stained and look worse for wear too.
Tip #5: Get Regular Dental Cleanings
While brushing and flossing are excellent for everyday cleaning, a regular dental teeth cleaning can get the spots you missed. Bi-annual checkups are the best option, as you can keep your teeth bright all year round. Fortunately, finding a Melbourne, FL, dentist is easy, as Artistic Touch Dentistry is always here to help.
Let Artistic Touch Dentistry Brighten Up Your Friendly Smile!
At Artistic Touch Dentistry, we understand how important your smile is to you. We want you to feel your best, which is why we offer comprehensive dental services, including dental teeth cleaning, cosmetic dentistry, and more.