Which Is the Best Way to Care for Your Teeth as an Adult?

To maintain healthy teeth and gums, you will have to commit to a lifetime of healthy oral care practices. Neglecting your teeth predisposes you to tooth decay and gum disease putting your oral health and general body health at risk.

Tips to Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy

Below are key steps crucial in maintaining ideal oral care and establishing strong, healthy teeth.

1. Brush Your Teeth Regularly but Don’t Do It Aggressively

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is a key practice that gets rid of bacteria and plaque on your teeth. However, for brushing to be effective in keeping your teeth clean, you must know how to do it correctly.

When you brush your teeth, move your toothbrush in a small circular motion, making sure you brush each tooth’s top, front, and back. Dental experts will also recommend that you use a soft-bristled brush and avoid brushing your teeth aggressively, as this can damage the gums and dental enamel.

Remember to change your brush after every three months or when you notice that the brush’s end looks frayed.

2. Floss Everyday

Dental flossing can help eliminate bacteria, plaque, and food debris trapped between teeth that your toothbrush cannot reach. If left to accumulate, the trapped food particles can cause bad breath and tooth decay.

Dental experts recommend pushing the dental floss down to your gumline before hugging the tooth’s side with an up-and-down motion.

3. Use Fluoride

Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens the enamel and promotes its fight against decay. You can get fluoride from toothpaste or drinking water, but ensure you take it in the right amounts since excess fluoride can lead to various health complications.

4. Avoid Smoking

Smoking tobacco and its products weaken one’s immune system making it difficult for body tissues to heal properly. The Canadian Dental Association also lists smoking as a risk factor for periodontal disease. They also warn that smokers will likely experience a longer recovery after dental procedures because of slow healing.

5. Limit Your Sugar and Starch Intake

High consumption of sugary foods will most likely lead to dental cavities and other adverse oral health outcomes. For such reasons, our St. Catharines dentist recommends you limit sugary foods consumption.

Oral health experts have also listed starchy foods like bread, crackers, pasta, and chips as causes of dental decay. When these foods linger in your mouth, the acid-producing bacteria in your oral cavity break them down to simple sugars. In the process, the acid produced erodes your enamel causing dental decay.

6. Consider an Antibacterial Mouthwash

Although most people skip using mouthwash, it is usually important to incorporate it into your daily oral care routine for healthy teeth. Antibacterial mouthwash has cleaning agents that eliminate bacteria and germs in your oral cavity. If you have unhealthy teeth, your dentist may recommend using mouthwash to help restore your enamel and make your teeth strong again

7. Drink Plenty of Water

Water remains to be the best drink for your oral and overall health. Dental experts at our Downtown dentistry recommend drinking plenty of water throughout the day and after meals as it helps to clean out acidic and sticky foods trapped in your mouth. Drinking acidic beverages will wear down your enamel, predisposing you to decay and teeth stains.

Foods That Promote a Healthy Smile

There are various nutrient-rich foods you can eat to promote healthy teeth, inclusive of a balanced diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, proteins, whole grains, and calcium-rich foods.

Examples of foods known to improve one’s oral health are:

• Cheese, Yogurt, and Milk

All three products have low sugar content and are rich in calcium which strengthens teeth and maintains bone density.

• Leafy Greens

Healthy leafy greens like spinach, kale, and lettuce contain folic acid, calcium, and other important vitamins and minerals necessary for strong teeth.

• Apples

Although eating an apple a day may not keep your dentist away, it will definitely help clean your teeth by stimulating saliva production, which neutralizes acids left behind in your oral cavity.

If you are looking for a dentist or orthodontist near you in Ontario, visit Monarch Dentistry for quality dental care.