Seeing the dentist at least twice a year is the best way to make sure you maintain a healthy smile. However, if you are maintaining the required number of visits, that means there are six months between each appointment that your smile must stay healthy. Fortunately, there are several ways you can maintain a healthy smile in between your dental appointments.
Any food that sticks to the teeth, especially those with high sugar content, encourage the development of cavities. Similarly, regularly drinking sugary beverages promotes tooth decay. If you endlessly snack and wash it all down with several cans of soda daily, your oral health suffers.
You can better protect your smile by changing your dietary habits. Trade out the candy and soda for vegetables and water, or some other sugar-free drink. You also should limit the number of times you eat and drink anything other than water each day. That way, there are fewer opportunities for food to be stuck on the teeth.
Water is more than a sugar-free beverage option. Regular water consumption also washes food debris off the teeth, even if you did not change any other aspects of your diet. Therefore, when you do improve your dietary habits, make sure that one of those adjustments is increasing how often you drink water.
Cigarettes or other tobacco products dry out your mouth. This side effect encourages teeth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. For the benefit of your oral and systemic health, quit all your tobacco habits.
We know you have been told to brush twice a day—we don’t need to bring that up. However, are you sure you are brushing correctly?
You should use a soft-bristled brush and press it gently against the teeth and gums. Otherwise, you may be harming these structures by applying too much force. You should also hold that brush at a 45-degree angle, which scrubs away plaque more efficiently.
Additionally, too many patients believe that they must brush immediately after eating a meal. Sugary and acidic foods weaken the enamel, and brushing right after consuming these may cause damage to teeth. Rinse your mouth with water after these meals and wait thirty minutes before brushing to make sure you do not lose any enamel.
Dr. Philip K. Clark, DMD, provides preventive oral health care through patient education and thorough dental exams. This approach to dentistry is the reason why we have been able to help Fleming Island, Eagle Harbor, and all nearby communities keep their smiles healthy.
For more information, call us and schedule an appointment today.