Top Five Tips for Healthy Teeth that You Need to Know
- Or How Easy it is to Have a Beautiful Smile
With so much information available for improving our oral and overall health, it can be hard to know which advice is current and accurate. Also because of the demands on our time, we could all use a simple to follow philosophy when it comes to maintaining our smiles.
These five tips are the bottom line when it comes to caring for your teeth and gums.
#1 Use a Motorized Toothbrush to Brush and Floss Properly at the Right Times
Quality electric toothbrushes just work harder. Many have built-in timers as well to help you brush for the recommended amount of time. Expect to pay about $30 for a quality motorized toothbrush.
Brush teeth for two minutes in the morning, preferably after breakfast and after your last meal of the day, once you’ve already flossed your teeth.
Tilt the brush toward your gum line and move in tooth-wide strokes to cover the entire surfaces of front teeth. For back teeth, angle the brush vertically, using short strokes to clean all posterior sides of teeth.
When flossing in the evening, start with an 18” length of floss and using a new section for each tooth, wrap each at the bottom and scrape up. When finished flossing between all teeth, rinse and then brush.
#2 See the Dentist twice a year
Your oral hygiene routine will take you far in preventing damage to your teeth, but it is not 100% effective. You still need regular cleanings to remove even the smallest amount of tartar that has accumulated. Even with ideal home care, decay can occur. By seeing the dentist regularly, your chances of needing only a simple filling, rather than a more complex procedure are greatly increased.
#3 Drink Lots of Water
Drinking water throughout the day hydrates your body and mouth. A dry mouth can lead to poor oral health while drinking water helps to rinse the mouth of leftover food debris. Also, the more water you drink, the less likely you will consume sweetened beverages.
#4 Eat Crisp Raw Vegetables and Nuts
In addition to being healthy for your body, good nutrition is good for your teeth and gums. The fiber in raw vegetables and nuts help keep teeth clean. Replace sweet snacks with these healthier options: celery, carrot sticks, strawberries, fresh apples, almonds, walnuts, and cheese. Sugarless gum in moderation can also help keep teeth clean and breath fresh while producing saliva to prevent dry mouth.
#5 Avoid sugar and sticky snacks
Even snacks like crackers and chips can get stuck to teeth for hours at a time. Sugars not only stick to teeth, but they also feed the bacteria that cause decay and gum disease.
Call our Reno Dental Office to Learn More or to Schedule a Visit
Larry E. Gilman, DDS, & Michael S. Gilman, DDS, are dedicated to the maintenance, enhancement, and restoration of smiles across Reno and Sparks NV, as well as Lake Tahoe.