teeth

Like many people, your current dental regimen focuses only on brushing your teeth and flossing occasionally. Actually, taking care of your mouth doesn’t always start with your teeth. Lifestyle habits, health conditions, and even heredity can all influence oral health. As you will soon see, there are countless simple things you can do to care for your mouth, teeth, and gums.

If you have questions for your dentist, write them down and bring them to your appointment. Once your cleaning and exam begin, it is hard to get a word in edgewise, especially with picks, pokers and mirrors in your mouth! Speak up beforehand, and a dental hygienist can answer your questions before your mouth is too full, or too sore to ask afterwards.

Brush your teeth daily. Food and bad bacteria can settle on and in between teeth causing odor and dental issues, so brushing them helps to keep them clean. Brush them at least twice per day using a toothpaste that contains fluoride. The best times to brush your teeth are after every meal you eat and prior to bed.

If every time you brush your teeth there’s any trace of blood inside the mouth, go see your periodontist or dentist. Bleeding gums may be a symptom of gum disease which can be a big problem. Gum disease is something that can affect you by causing infections, tooth loss, diabetes, and bone loss.

What kind of toothpaste do you use? It is best to use a toothpaste that contains fluoride. If you have issues with cavities, choose a toothpaste designed to reduce your risks of developing cavities. You can also choose a product designed for people with sensitive gums if this is your case.

Eat more nutritious meals. Your diet and overall health can have a huge impact on the state of your teeth. Monitor what you are eating. Make sure that you are getting the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs. Your smile will be all the better and brighter for it.

Strengthen your existing enamel with the foods that you eat. Certain vitamins and the mineral calcium, in particular, all help out with this. Foods that are good to accomplish this with include nuts, meats and dairy choices. Avoid sugary foods, soft drinks and sweetened teas, as these will do immediate damage to your enamel.

Remember to clean your tongue. You may brush your teeth regularly, but are you remembering to keep your tongue clean as well? Cleaning your tongue is important, especially if you want your breath to smell clean and fresh. Make sure to scrape or, at the very least, brush your tongue on a regular basis.

Sugarless gum is a good way to clean your teeth if you cannot carry a toothbrush with you everywhere. Chew a piece of sugarless gum to clean your teeth after eating a small snack. Keep in mind that gum is not good for your teeth if it contains any kind of sugar.

A combination of regular dental visits and simple hygiene habits goes a long way in promoting good oral health. Do it for yourself, or do it for your dentist. Either way, you can be certain that your efforts will pay off in more ways than one. Now that’s something to smile about!…