Having a healthy smile makes you feel good about yourself and your appearance. A healthy smile is attained by maintaining a daily routine of visiting the dentist, brushing your teeth twice per day using fluoride toothpaste, flossing, and visiting the dentist. Your teeth and gums stay healthy when you take good care of them.
Your gums play an essential role in oral health by protecting your teeth from bacteria, plaque, and sugars that cause cavities. Healthy gums keep the root of your tooth protected when you brush and floss.
1. Brush at Least Twice a Day
Brush your teeth twice per day using fluoride toothpaste. Ensure you brush your teeth for at least one hour after eating or drinking anything sweet. Brushing after mealtime will ensure that food particles and sugars are removed from the teeth, which prevents germs in the mouth from sticking to teeth and causing cavities.
2. Use Fluoride Toothpaste
Be gentle when brushing! Don’t scrub too hard or fast, as this can damage your gums and cause bleeding. When you brush, you should use a circular motion. Brush the entire surface of each tooth and brush the outside, inside, and chewing surfaces. Use fluoride toothpaste to strengthen your teeth and help prevent cavities.
3. Floss Every Day
Flossing once or twice a day is recommended to help prevent cavities. Using floss helps prevent plaque buildup between your teeth and gums. Make sure you floss the top and bottom teeth. Then, wrap the floss around each tooth and gently move the floss up and down to scrape off plaque.
4. Visit the Dentist
Visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. Your dentist will manually remove tartar from your teeth and examine them for cavities and disease. You may need fillings or a tooth removed if you develop dental problems or cavities.
5. Limit Your Sugar Intake
Limit the amount of sugar that you eat or drink each day. Soda, candy, and other sweets rot your teeth from the inside out. This can weaken your teeth and lead to cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease.
6. Avoid Smoking Tobacco
Smoking seriously damages your teeth and gums. Tobacco stains your teeth and cements plaque to the surface of your teeth. Smoking also makes your gums look yellow. Smoking is a major cause of gum disease.
7. Consider Using a Mouthwash
Mouthwash helps to kill germs and bacteria in your mouth, which are the main causes of bad breath. Mouthwash also reduces plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth.
8. Consider Getting a Tongue Scraper
Food debris and dead cells can build up on your tongue. This causes bad breath and a fuzzy feeling on your tongue. A metal or plastic scraper will help scrape your tongue clean. To clean your teeth, use a toothbrush with soft bristles and gently wipe the areas around your teeth.
In conclusion, following these daily dental hygiene tips can help you achieve a healthier smile and improve your oral health. You should visit your dentist twice yearly, brush your teeth twice a day, and floss daily.