Great Tips On How To Improve Your Dental Health

ByGeoffrey Nevine •
Dental Health
Taking care of your teeth is no easy task! There are so many things that can go wrong with those pearly whites, it’s hard to keep track. However, with some simple vigilance and attention on your part, your teeth can last you a lifetime without problems. This article is equipped with tried and true dental care just for you!

You may want to avoid mouthwash that contains alcohol, especially if you are older than 50. One of the pitfalls of aging is increased sensitivity in the mouth, which is only made worse by alcohol. Your best bet is to use a mouthwash that contains no alcohol and is fortified with fluoride. Use it twice daily for good results.

Brush more frequently than two times per day if you consume foods known to damage your enamel. Whenever you consume anything with a lot of sugar, you should brush your teeth after.

Visit your dentist every six months or whenever your dentist feels as though you should visit. Only by getting care regularly can you keep big problems at bay, depending on your situation. As you make it a habit of going, you will no longer view appointments with a sense of dread and fear. This is important if you will need dental work done at some point.

A toothache has been said to be right up there, if not worse than labor pains.  For there was never a philosopher who could endure a toothache patiently. For this reason, it is important to address a toothache at the very first sign of pain. Don’t assume that the pain will just pass. Get it checked out to make sure there is not something more serious going on like an abscess, which can turn serious rather quickly.

One way to ensure that you do not end up with cavities is to take good care of your teeth by performing regular dental care. Brushing, flossing and using mouthwash can all help to rid your mouth of harmful bacteria. It is also an effective way to stage off cavities.

Does sipping hot or cold beverages cause you to wince with pain in your teeth? Find a toothpaste for sensitive gums and teeth and plan on going to the dentist to get your problem looked at. Sensitivity might be a sign of a cavity or nerve inflammation. It is always best to treat these problems early.

Some dental issues are caused by a vitamin deficiency. Try taking more vitamins such as Vitamin B and calcium. These vitamins are naturally found in fruits and dairy products and contribute to overall dental health.

If you are deathly afraid of spending time in the dentist’s chair, you might be tempted to skip cleanings or procedures altogether. This is a bad idea, especially since poor oral hygiene can lead to gum disease or even diabetes. Consider sedation dentistry, in which the patient is not awake during the appointment. Furthermore, some dentists will prescribe sedatives prior to the appointment. If you use either option, you must have someone who can drive you to and from the appointment.

Ways to Improve Your Smile


Keep Your Natural Sheen


Your smile is one of the first things that people notice about you. A healthy smile isn’t always achieved overnight but takes a variety of methods to help create and maintain. Here are 10 easy things you can do to help improve the appearance and health of your teeth.

Floss Daily


Flossing removes plaque between teeth and out from under the gumlines, where a toothbrush can’t reach. Daily flossing helps prevent tooth decay and gingivitis. When left alone, plaque and tartar build up under the surface of the gumlines. This can cause periodontal disease, which leads to bone destruction and tooth loss.

To floss properly, wrap the floss tightly around your finger and insert in the space between your teeth. Gently slide it up and down under the gumlines two to three times. If bleeding occurs, this is most likely due to gingivitis or gum disease. When flossing daily, the bleeding associated with mild to moderate gingivitis usually stops after about two weeks.

If you just can’t stand flossing, try an oral irrigator. This device sprays water or mouthwash to remove plaque and food from your teeth and below your gumline.

See Your Hygienist Twice a Year 


Having routine cleanings every six months helps to promote good oral health and a beautiful smile. When your cleanings are irregular, you can develop periodontal disease. This can cause unsightly swollen, receding, and bleeding gums. It’s also linked to health conditions like heart attack, stroke, diabetes, obesity, premature births, and sleep apnea.

In addition to removing stain and tartar from your teeth, your dental hygienist will also screen for health conditions like high blood pressure and oral cancer. Because many health conditions manifest themselves in the mouth, your dentist and hygienist can make you aware of issues that you should follow up on with your doctor.

Give Up Smoking


Smoking causes staining of your teeth. The stain of smoke is sometimes a superficial stain that can be polished off, but it can also soak deep into the enamel. Smoking also damages healthy gums, causing them to recede and develop large pockets around the teeth. This makes teeth appear longer and creates dark spaces between them. Smoking also makes it very difficult to reverse gum disease. 

Drinks like coffee, tea, and red wine are known for staining teeth. Similar to smoking, these drinks can build up a superficial stain that your dentist or hygienist can polish off. But they can also cause internal staining of your tooth enamel.

Limit Your Coffee, Tea, and Red Wine


Drinking through a straw can help reduce the stain on your teeth and may help reduce the risk of tooth decay. It can also help to rinse your mouth frequently with water so the dark liquid does not sit on your teeth for a long period between meals.

Choose Your Whitening Products Carefully


Depending on your needs, there are a variety of whitening products available: gel pens, rinses, toothpaste, strips, over-the-counter trays, custom trays, and laser whitening. While the choices can be overwhelming, each type can have specific benefits that help you target problem areas. Whitening toothpaste and rinses are good for coffee and tea drinkers. Gel pens are good for touching up small areas, like a tooth that has shifted back and collects more stain. Custom trays and laser whitening provide professional strength whitening and offer the most dramatic results.

Top quality electric toothbrushes are clinically shown to remove more plaque and achieve healthier gums than standard manual toothbrushes. Many now feature modes of whitening and sensitive teeth. The toothbrush bodies are made to last for years, while the heads can be changed out routinely as they age, or for sharing among family members.

If you’re not ready to shell out the dough for an electric toothbrush, be sure to purchase a soft-bristled manual brush. While medium and hard bristled brushes are readily available on the market, dental professionals adamantly advise against their use. Stiffer bristles and aggressive brushing causes gums to recede and can wear enamel away from the teeth.

Drink Plenty of Water


Water is the healthiest drink of your smile and your body. It helps flush teeth clean and discourages tooth decay. Tap water is the best choice as it has the recommended dosage of fluoride. Many times bottled water comes from a source where the fluoride levels are not monitored or contain no fluoride at all. A healthy level of fluoride promotes tooth health and discourages decay. Frequent consumption of acidic or sugary drinks can increase decay rates dramatically. Athletes are quickly becoming an at-risk group as the effects of sports drinks take a toll on their teeth.

Improve Your Other Health Conditions


Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and bruxism (also known as teeth grinding) can all affect the health and appearance of your smile. When the body is strained by one health condition, it’s more difficult to treat another. Rather than covering up symptoms, you can help improve your health through preventive methods. Eating right and getting enough exercise can dramatically improve the appearance of your body, teeth, and gums.

Get Dental Treatment in a Timely Manner.


Dental conditions never correct themselves on their own. Tooth decay left untreated can easily transform a small cavity into a large tooth abscess. Where a tiny filling may have been all that was needed, it may now require a root canal and a crown. Treating your tooth decay early means you’ll need smaller and less invasive dental restorations. This helps maintain the structure and stability of the tooth and keeps treatment costs lower. If left untreated, decay can spread to other teeth and may cause infections throughout the rest of your body.

Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day


This is a given, but many people still need to be reminded to brush their teeth at least twice a day. Because plaque can harden into tartar, frequent brushing helps teeth to stay whiter and healthier than in people who brush less often. How you brush is also important. Angle the bristles toward the gumline at a 45-degree angle, with just enough pressure to make the tissue a lighter color. Gently make small strokes, focusing on only one or two teeth at a time. This will keep your gums healthy and remove the most plaque. It can take some time before you start to notice changes in whitening or improved oral hygiene. While these changes don’t come overnight, they are certainly worth the time and effort, both for the sake of your smile and your overall health.

Form Good Habits for a Great Smile


It can take some time before you start to notice changes in whitening or improved oral hygiene. While these changes don’t come overnight, they are certainly worth the time and effort, both for the sake of your smile and your overall health.

Hopefully, the above article has helped you debunk some of the facts of dental care. There are so many things to consider when caring for your teeth. It helps when you know exactly what to do in order to prevent tooth decay, cavities, and other dental problems. Use what you have just learned to have a lifetime of healthy teeth!

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