A clean and healthy smile is one of your most valuable assets. Often, your smile is among the first things that people notice about you. Aside from that, having a healthy smile means being able to eat comfortably and support your overall physical health. So, you can see why dental health is important. Due to the mouth being constantly exposed to food and bacteria, however, keeping your smile healthy requires a bit of effort.
Today, Advanced Indiana will be discussing five steps to a cleaner, healthier smile. When you follow these tips, you can maintain good oral health so that you can have a smile to be proud of. There’s no excuse for neglecting your oral health, and these tips will ensure you stay on the right track!
5 Tips to Maintain Your Oral Health
1. Get Dental Cleanings Twice Per Year
Although the grooves and ridges of our teeth are difficult to clean, even with daily flossing and brushing, a dental cleaning from our team can help you maintain a cleaner, healthier smile. Removing plaque from those areas that are especially hard to clean, dental cleanings prevent plaque from turning into tartar. Once tartar is formed, there is a higher chance of developing gum disease. By keeping regular appointments with your dentist and receiving dental cleanings twice per year, you can avoid bigger oral health issues down the road.
2. Floss and Brush After Each Meal
When you floss and brush after each meal on a daily basis, you’re doing your part to rid your mouth of bacteria that can lead to cavities down the road. Our dentists recommend brushing your teeth for at least 2 minutes at a time for the best results. Not only do brushing and flossing prevent tooth decay, but they also do a lot to lessen your chances of gum disease, bad breath, and a slew of other dental health problems. Try to make flossing and brushing after each meal part of your daily routine and enjoy a healthier smile that you can be proud of!
3. Avoid Certain Beverages
Certain beverages should be avoided if you’re trying to prioritize your oral health, including coffee, tea, and soda. This is because coffee, tea, and soda contain caffeine which is known for drying out your mouth. Additionally, these beverages can stain your teeth over time. Soda also contains high levels of sugar, which is known to erode enamel. If you find it difficult to give up these beverages, try brushing your teeth directly after having your morning coffee or using a straw when drinking soda so that the sugar bypasses your teeth.
4. Drink More Water
Although drinking plenty of water has plenty of health benefits outside of oral care, drinking more water benefits your teeth. Drinking water helps you wash out any leftover food after eating that could get stuck in your teeth and rot. Additionally, staying hydrated stimulates saliva production, and this helps protect your teeth as well. Water also dilutes the acid in the mouth that destroys enamel. As you can see, there are a variety of benefits to drinking more water when it comes to your smile, so make sure you’re drinking plenty of it every day!
5. Use Fluoride Treatments
Finally, our last recommendation for ways that you can get a cleaner, healthier smile involves using fluoride treatments. Fluoride strengthens your teeth, and while it is found in water and food, few people receive the right amount of fluoride without treatments. Additionally, those who aren’t eating a balanced diet likely have low levels of fluoride in their bodies, which is critically important for oral health. Use fluoride toothpaste regularly and talk to your dentist about fluoride treatments to ensure you have plenty of fluoride in your diet!
The Dental Experts You Can Count On
Now that you know some of our top recommendations for getting a cleaner, healthier smile, it’s time to find a dental expert that you can count on to help you along your journey. Here at Advanced Indiana, we specialize in a variety of dental health services, and we want to serve you as you work towards the best oral health possible. If you’re looking for a dentist that can provide the care you deserve, contact us today. You can also request an appointment online! We look forward to working with you.
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