Keeping your teeth and gums as healthy as possible is the best way to prevent tooth decay and other dentistry complications. Since it’s dental hygiene month, and we always care about your dental health, we’ll share some of our top tips below to keep your gums and teeth healthy.
Dental Hygiene: What Causes Issues?
An unhealthy build-up of plaque on your teeth is the primary cause of most dental issues. Plaque is a film of bacteria that sticks to your teeth and feeds off sugar and starch foods. When this happens, it produces an acid that eats away at your natural teeth.
A healthy smile is more than white, clean teeth. It’s a combination of a healthy mouth, cleaned and flossed teeth, and fresh breath. Dentists have the required tools to remove plaque and tartar build-up from your teeth.
Since it’s dental hygiene month, our team has put together our top tips on how you can keep your gums and teeth healthy and prevent tooth decay complications.
How To Maintain Healthy Gums And Teeth Everyday
The best dental care starts at home, and prevention is always better than cure. Follow these tips to keep your dentist and hygienist happy and keep your smile healthy.
Keep Your Dental Routine In Check
Forgetting to brush your teeth and skipping your daily floss can cost you healthy gums and teeth. You must make sure you have a daily dental hygiene routine.
Below are some of the important steps to use in a daily dental hygiene routine, recommended by hygienists from the American Dental Association:
- Brush your teeth twice a day
- Don’t push too hard with the brush, and brush for 2 minutes
- Brush your tongue
- Floss daily, it helps to remove unwanted plaque
- Drink a glass of water after eating to keep food from sitting on your gums and teeth
Watch Your Diet
What you consume in your mouth can affect your dental hygiene. For example, drinking a lot of tea and coffee throughout the day can cause your teeth to discolor. Maintaining a healthy diet is the best way to ensure your teeth and gums are well looked after.
- Since sugars, processed foods, and starches can cause an increase in plaque, avoid them, or keep them minimal in your daily intake.
- Avoid drinking too much alcohol and ensure you stay hydrated. A dry mouth is an environment for the wrong bacteria to grow, causing tooth decay. If you can avoid smoking, that will help your dental hygiene too.
- Eat the right foods and the right amounts of them. Look at the portion sizes and ensure you get all the nutrient-rich foods you can each day. These nutrients will support healthy gums and teeth.
Schedule Regular Dental And Hygienist Appointments
Finally, it’s best to see your dentist and dental hygienist every 6 months to maintain optimal care. An oral hygienist spends time removing all the plaque and polishing your teeth. They will be able highlight potential issues in your gums and teeth.
Looking for the best dental office in Boynton Beach?
Eriks Dental Group has everything you need in one place. Our welcoming and professional team provide caring and comprehensive dental service. Request an appointment at Eriks Dental Group today, or call us at 561-733-4004 for more information.