Tips That Help Care For Your Teeth

You’ve been learning about dental hygiene from the day your parents taught you how to correctly hold a toothbrush. Taking care of your oral health is crucial if you want to maintain your smile and keep the dental bills down!

Here’s a handy guide for you to care for your teeth properly and get your smile to last a lifetime:

1. Brush At Least Twice A Day

Brushing your teeth is the most important part of your oral hygiene routine. Ideally you would brush your teeth after every meal, but twice a day is sufficient to maintain good oral health. Brush your teeth when you wake up and right before you go to bed – this ensures you get all of the plaque removed from the surface of your teeth.

If your feel as if your teeth are not getting fully clean, schedule a deep cleaning with your dentist. Deep cleanings are different from regular brushing, and can give you a solid foundation on which to build your new oral health habits!

2. Brush Your Teeth Correctly

Now that you’re brushing your teeth frequently enough, check if you are making any of these ten brushing mistakes. You want to make sure you’re brushing for at least two minutes, using a circular motion and spending an equal amount of time in each part of your mouth. Brush the front, back, and tops of your teeth – gently massaging the gums with a soft-bristled toothbrush.

Don’t rush! Plaque can take some time to be removed, and if it hardens it can lead to calculus buildup and gum diseases such as gingivitis.

3. Use A Fluoride Toothpaste

The most important ingredient in your toothpaste is not whitening powder or specific flavors, it’s fluoride! Fluoride is essential for maintaining good oral health as it is a strong defense against the germs that cause tooth decay, as well as building a protective barrier for your teeth.

4. Brush Your Tongue Too

Plaque build-up is not limited to your teeth! It loves hiding out on your tongue too. This is usually the cause of bad breath, and it can lead to more serious dental health issues in the future. So, whenever you brush your teeth, give your tongue a gentle scrub until it’s a bright pink color.

5. Regularly Replace Your Toothbrush

Your toothbrush shouldn’t be falling apart before you replace it. Because of their frequent exposure to the bacteria in your mouth, toothbrushes need to be replaced when they start to look worn, or at least every three months. We also recommend you swap out your toothbrush after you’ve been ill.

Old and worn-out toothbrushes aren’t able to clean your teeth effectively, which increases your risk of developing dental problems such as cavities or tooth decay.

6. Floss Every Day

No amount of brushing will replace the importance of flossing in your oral hygiene routine. Flossing removes residue food and plaque between your teeth, stimulates your gums, and can lower inflammation in your gums. Flossing once a day is usually sufficient, but if you are prone to gum diseases or tartar build-up you can floss twice a day to keep your gums happy. Make sure to rinse after you floss!

7. Use Mouthwash

An underrated step in anyone’s oral hygiene routine, mouthwash works by reducing the acid levels in your mouth, cleaning difficult-to-reach areas in your mouth, and re-mineralizing your teeth. Using mouthwash helps reduce plaque levels and cavities, all while freshening your breath and killing harmful bacteria that lives on your tongue and between your teeth. Mouthwash also helps protect your gums from gingivitis.

8. Keep Hydrated

Drinking water is the best way to keep hydrated and having plenty of it ensures your entire body has the liquid it needs and helps remove excess food residue in your mouth after a meal or a snack. This simple tip helps keep your teeth clean in between brushes and can help fight bad breath.

Water is also the largest component of your saliva which fights off bacteria, and helps the soft tissues of your mouth remain healthy and moist.

9. Don’t Grind Your Teeth

Teeth grinding is rarely something done by choice, and often someone will grind their teeth without even realizing they’re doing it! This can be from stress, anxiety, concentration, or anger. Often, people grind their teeth in their sleep.

Signs that you are grinding your teeth in your sleep include:

• worn tooth enamel
• torn cheek tissue
• increased tooth sensitivity

Try to find the root cause of your teeth grinding and figure out ways to alleviate the emotion that’s causing you to damage your teeth. In the meantime, your dentist can make a grind-proof mouth-guard for you to wear at night to prevent the wearing down of your teeth.

10. Look At Your Diet

Sugar is converted to acid in your mouth. Frequently consuming sugary snacks or drinking soft drinks can result in acid attacking and eroding your tooth enamel, which can result in cavities if not stopped in time. Stickier sweets take longer for your saliva to dissolve, which further increases your risk of tooth decay. You don’t need to avoid sugar altogether, but be mindful of the affect it has on your dental health! To help prevent cavities, drink plenty of water after eating or drinking anything sugary, and brush your teeth as soon as possible.

11. Regular Checkups & Deep Cleaning

When it comes to oral health, your dentist really is your best friend. Regular checkups ensure potential problems are spotted and can be avoided, and (if you need one) a deep cleaning removes all bacteria, tartar, or other debris collecting in your mouth.

Find A Dentist In Boynton Beach

If you are looking for a warm and experienced partner on your oral hygiene journey, you’ve come to the right place! Schedule an appointment with us today and let’s get you smiling your brightest.