Regular dental visits are crucial to maintaining your oral and dental health and preventing minor problems from causing serious and possibly permanent damage. However, even if you visit the dentist once or twice a year, that doesn’t mean you can neglect your dental health the rest of the time. In fact, maintaining your dental health between dental visits is just as important as receiving regular dental treatment. The following tips will help you keep your mouth healthy in between dental visits.
Diet and Nutrition
Lifestyle plays a big role in how healthy your mouth is. If you frequently eat foods high in sugar, such as sweets or carbonated beverages, this can cause serious problems such as cavities. Acidic foods are also sometimes harmful and can cause the enamel to erode. Limit your intake of such foods and instead increase the amount of healthy foods you consume, particularly vegetables. A healthy diet not only keeps your teeth in good shape, it also improves your overall health.
Rinse Your Mouth Throughout the Day
Even if you brush your teeth every day, food can still stay on your teeth if you drink or snack during the day. This can cause erosion and other damage. Anytime you consume something sugary or acidic, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water to ensure no residue stays on your teeth.
Brush Your Teeth the Right Way
Just because you brush your teeth after every meal, this doesn’t mean you’re protecting your teeth or preventing damage. In fact, how you brush is just as important as how often you brush. You may think using a firm toothbrush will more effectively clean your teeth, but it could cause excess friction and damage your teeth instead. Be gentle on your mouth and opt for a soft toothbrush. Also, replace your toothbrush frequently. A worn out toothbrush won’t clean your teeth, so switch to a new one as soon as the bristles begin to lose their shape. When brushing, angle the brush against your gumline and use small circular motions. Brush the outer surface of teeth first, and then move to the back of the teeth. When brushing behind the front teeth, brush with an up-and-down motion.
Follow Up By Flossing
Brushing your teeth is crucial, but for best results floss every day as well. Each piece of floss should measure at least 18 inches. Wrap each end around your middle fingers and move the floss gently in a back-and-forth motion between the teeth. Do this on both sides of each tooth.
If you’re looking for top-notch dental care, call today for an appointment with Las Vegas cosmetic dentist Jeffrey Hadley. Our friendly, compassionate staff are always happy to see you, and we can help you maintain the health of your pearly whites for years to come!