Healthier Smile
The health of your teeth is often determined by the steps that you take to care for your teeth. The more effort you invest in caring for your teeth, the better off your oral health will be. It is important to follow the right procedures for oral hygiene. There are many steps involved in preventing tooth decay, some of which are obvious and others that aren’t quite as apparent. The right services can go a long way toward improving the health of your teeth and creating a healthier smile. At Jenson Dental, we strive to provide all of the necessary services to optimize your oral health. Here are 4 steps that you can take to obtain a healthier smile.
1. Your Oral Hygiene Routine
Bacteria and plaque grow on your teeth every day. This is why it is important that your oral hygiene routines are completed daily to minimize the amount of damage that these components can do to your teeth. You need to brush twice a day for at least two minutes. It is also important to brush your teeth in the correct way. You need to brush every surface of the teeth using short, back and forth strokes. Hold your toothbrush at a 45˚ angle. Make sure that you also brush the surface of your tongue, as bacteria and plaque can buildup on the tongue, as well. It is similarly important to floss on a daily basis to remove particles from between your teeth, where your toothbrush is unable to reach. You may want to consider adding mouthwash to your regular routine to provide a healthier smile. The best type of mouthwash for you will depend on your specific situation, but alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash can provide many benefits to the teeth.
2. Visit your Dentist
Visiting your dentist regularly is incredibly important to protect the health of your teeth. Most experts recommend visiting your dentist every 6 months, but you should always listen to the specific recommendations of your dentist, as this may depend on your situation. It is also important to familiarize yourself with your insurance policy to see what they cover as far as the number of dental visits over a year. When plaque is allowed to buildup on the surface of the teeth, it hardens into a substance called tartar. Tartar can’t be removed by brushing your teeth, but it can be removed by an effective dental cleaning. A dental cleaning will also be able to remove stains from the surface of your teeth, which can go a long way toward improving their overall appearance and giving you a healthier smile.
Additionally, visiting your dentist will allow them to catch potential issues early on. This will result in issues being resolved much more easily than if the problem is allowed to escalate. Dentists can also provide alternative services to improve the health or protect your teeth, giving you a healthier smile. These services may include things like fluoride treatments or dental sealants. It is important to visit your dentist as soon as you notice an issue with your oral health. For example, if a cavity has begun to form, you will need to obtain a filling as soon as possible to minimize the likelihood of the damage escalating. This can prevent a root canal or even an extraction from becoming necessary later on.
3. Improve your Nutrition
Dietary habits significantly impact the teeth. Sugary foods and beverages allow bacteria to produce acid that is harmful to the teeth. Minimizing the frequency of consuming these foods or beverages can go a long way toward protecting the teeth. You should quit drinking soda altogether to protect your teeth. If this isn’t an option, there are things that you can do to minimize the damage it can do to your teeth. Drinking through a straw can help to direct the sugary beverage away from the teeth. Additionally, you should drink soda in one sitting rather than sipping on it throughout the day. Every time you sip the soda, the acid attack to your teeth restarts.
Specific types of food can provide significant benefits to the health of the teeth. Dark, leafy greens are full of vitamins and minerals. They also require more chewing, which means that they help to stimulate saliva production. This helps to flush out food particles and harmful bacteria from the surface of the teeth. Onions are capable of neutralizing bacteria in the mouth, which can make them a valuable addition to a salad or other food. Green tea contains many antioxidants that prevent inflammation and fight bacteria. A cup of green tea a day can significantly improve the health of the teeth. Dairy products can provide substantial benefits to the health of the teeth. Not only do they contain calcium that strengthens bones, but they also contain acid-neutralizing properties that help to lower pH-levels in the mouth. This prevents an acidic environment from damaging the teeth providing you with a healthier smile.
4. Quit Smoking or Chewing Tobacco
Regularly smoking or chewing tobacco can significantly impact the health of your teeth. It can encourage the growth of bacteria and cause damage to your smile. In addition, these substances can stain the surface of your teeth, which can be detrimental to the appearance of the teeth. Quitting the use of these products can go a long way toward improving the health of your teeth. If you drink, reducing your overall alcohol consumption can similarly help to improve the health of the teeth and give you a healthier smile.
Contact our Experts
There are many ways to obtain a much healthier smile, which can both improve the appearance and the health of your teeth. From the appropriate oral hygiene routine to regularly seeing your dentist, there are many methods that can improve your teeth. It is vital to regularly visit your dentist to ensure that they can effectively clean your teeth and catch potential problems in the early stages. To learn more about the methods that you can implement to improve the health of your smile or to schedule your regular dental visit, contact us at Jenson Dental today!
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