Teeth are a key part of your health. Problems can lead to pain, infection and reduced ability to chew food.
Preventive care starts early. Parents should start cleaning a baby’s mouth after feedings and before bedtime.
Brush Daily
Brushing your teeth is an essential part of keeping your pearly whites sparkling and your gums healthy. It helps remove plaque, which is the leading cause of tooth decay and gum disease, as well as remove surface stains from coffee and tea that darken your teeth.
While it’s a no-brainer that you should brush your teeth, many people don’t do it the right way. For example, one common mistake is to scrub too hard – in fact, harder isn’t always better, according to dentists. Instead, try going back and forth with a soft toothbrush, using gentle up-and-down motions and no more than a couple of strokes at a time.
Choosing the right brush is also important, and there are several types to choose from. For example, toothbrushes with circular heads and curved bristles may be easier to clean than a flat one. You should also look for a brush that fits your mouth and is made of high-quality materials.
The right toothbrush can help you brush more effectively by allowing you to reach all the areas of your mouth that you can’t with your fingernails. Choosing the right brush can also help you avoid dental emergencies and lower your oral health care bills in the long run.
In addition to the right toothbrush, you’ll want to make sure you are using the best toothpaste for your teeth, as well as drinking plenty of water. A healthy diet and regular visits to your dentist are other key components of good dental health.
Floss Daily
Flossing is an important part of your teeth care routine and should be done daily. It helps remove food debris and plaque that your toothbrush can’t reach. This helps prevent gum disease, tooth decay, and other dental issues.
Getting in the habit of flossing is easier when you set it up as part of a regular routine. You can do it in the morning or before bed, whichever works best for you and your schedule.
One of the most important reasons to floss is because it cleans away bacteria that can lead to bad breath and other oral health problems. Moreover, it can improve the look of your smile and freshen up your breath, which is always a good thing!
Another reason to floss is because it can help prevent gingivitis, an early form of gum disease that causes inflammation and bleeding of the gums. If left untreated, gingivitis can turn into periodontitis which is a more severe form of gum disease that may affect the bone and surrounding tissues in your mouth.
Gum disease is linked to other diseases like heart disease and diabetes, so keeping your mouth clean can help keep you healthy overall. Flossing can also reduce the risk of developing these diseases by removing harmful bacteria that could travel to your bloodstream.
Your dentist recommends using floss to remove plaque and food particles from hard to reach areas, such as in between your teeth. Plaque collects in these hard to reach areas and can cause cavities, gum disease, and other dental issues.
In fact, the American Dental Association (ADA) says that flossing is one of the most effective ways to fight tooth decay and gum disease.
Flossing can also improve the appearance of your smile and make your teeth appear whiter. It’s like vacuuming a carpet: it can get rid of excess dust and dirt that you may not notice.
The ADA recommends flossing once a day, along with brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time. There are many different types of floss, including waxed floss, pre-threaded flossers, dental picks, and powered water flossers. Ultimately, you want to find the type of floss that works best for you and your smile.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Keeping your teeth healthy is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health. It helps you chew food properly and also prevents gum disease. In addition, it keeps your smile looking good and allows you to feel more confident.
The American Dental Association recommends visiting your dentist at least twice a year for a cleaning and exam. However, your dentist can recommend more frequent visits depending on your dental health and the severity of any issues you have.
At each appointment, your dentist will use a variety of equipment to get a better view of the inside of your mouth and check for any problems. They will look for cavities, gingivitis, and other signs of oral disease.
Regular visits help to save your teeth from becoming too damaged and needing to be removed. Tooth decay and tooth abscess can be very painful and cause damage to the surrounding tissue, so preventing them is crucial to your dental health.
Another great thing about seeing your dentist regularly is that you can be sure to catch any problems early on so they don’t develop into larger, more expensive ones later on. The team at Del Sur Ranch Dental in San Diego, CA encourages patients to make proactive care a priority and not just wait until they are experiencing any kind of problem before making an appointment.
You’ll also be able to receive a full-mouth X-ray at your next visit so that you can get a better view of the condition of your mouth. This is especially important if you have any teeth that are missing or misaligned.
Your dentist will also be able to give you guidance on any potential dental issues that you might be experiencing, so that you can start taking steps to prevent them from happening in the future. In some cases, these issues can be cured simply by practicing good oral hygiene habits at home.
There are many other benefits of visiting your dentist regularly, but these are just some of them! If you would like to learn more about the benefits of routine oral care, please contact us today.
Eat a Healthy Diet
If you want to keep your teeth healthy, you need to eat a diet that is high in nutrients and low in sugar. It is important to eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains as well as low- or no-sugar-added dairy products, lean proteins, and water.
While there are many conflicting nutrition and diet advice out there, the truth is that it’s your overall eating pattern that matters most. If you eat too much salt or too much sugar, your body’s cells will become damaged and disease-causing bacteria will grow, leading to bad breath, gum disease and tooth decay.
Foods that are high in calcium and phosphorus help maintain and rebuild healthy teeth and jawbones, while those with low sugar content promote strong enamel. Milk, cheese, plain yogurt, calcium-fortified tofu, leafy greens, almonds, and chicken, fish and meats are great sources of these nutrients.
Fruits that are rich in vitamin C, such as strawberries, kiwis, apples, oranges, cranberries and grapefruit, can help protect your teeth from cavities by fighting acid-producing bacteria. They also help to maintain the pH levels in your mouth, which help stop the growth of decay-causing bacteria.
Carrots are another great cavity-fighting veggie. They’re full of nutrients like calcium, folic acid and vitamin C that promote healthy teeth and gums. They also trigger saliva production, which helps wash away food particles and bacteria in your mouth.
Cheese is also a good choice for your teeth because it helps increase saliva production, which helps clean your teeth and rinse out bacteria. It’s especially helpful for triggering the flow of saliva after meals or when you snack.
A balanced diet should include a variety of nutritious foods from each of the major food groups, as well as lean proteins, low- or no-sugar-added fats and fruits and vegetables of various colors. Try to avoid fried and processed foods that are high in fat and sodium.
Limiting snacks can be a helpful way to reduce your exposure to carbohydrates, which are the main cause of tooth decay. It’s important to choose healthy snacks, such as fresh fruits and vegetables or small portions of whole grain bread or pasta. When you do eat these types of foods, make sure to chew them before swallowing. This will aid in digestion and prevent a buildup of plaque.