A healthy smile looks great on anyone and it’s not just about having white teeth. When you take care of your entire mouth including the gums, bone surrounding your teeth, salivary glands, and the soft tissue in your mouth this will contribute to a healthy smile. At Mathee Dental we love seeing our patients come in with a big and healthy smile! Here are five tips to follow for a healthier smile:
Visit the Dentist Before You are in Pain
In most cases, patients will wait to come see the dentist until they are in excruciating pain. This is to be expected this late on into the pain cycle as the patient fears going because they will have to get restorative work done. Visit your dentist regularly for preventive dental work which includes:
- X-rays
- Dental cleanings
- Oral cancer screenings
This is all done to prevent problems from happening. Having a routine dentist visit will aid in preventing big oral health problems from happening. If a cavity is found, it can be dealt with early on instead of waiting until a crown is necessary or there is an abscess. Preventive maintenance saves time, money, and health!
Clean Your Whole Mouth
A quick tooth brush daily will not reach enough surfaces to remove bacteria in problem areas. Most cavities start between the teeth, and gum disease starts underneath the gums. Flossing removes plaque and tartar in this problematic area. Your mouth has a high amount of bacteria, and as such, it’s imperative to incorporate an antiseptic mouth rinse into your daily routine. This can undoubtedly reduce the bacterial load in your mouth, although plaque and staining can only be removed manually with a toothbrush or floss.
Give up smoking!
If you smoke, giving up the habit can drastically help your smile and your overall health. Smoking results in the staining of your teeth and can soak deep into their enamel. It also affects your gums, causing them to recede and develop large pockets around your teeth. This can make it difficult to reverse gum disease.
Drink More Water
There are some foods and liquids that will rot your teeth quicker than most due to their sugary or acidic levels. Up your water intake. Not only will your overall health improve, but your teeth will benefit from this. Water helps rinse the mouth, helping to decrease bad breath and cleansing food that sticks to teeth and feeds the bad bacteria in your mouth. When increasing water intake, you will also notice less stain on your teeth from three common culprits: coffee, wine, or soda.
Address Your Dry Mouth
Your saliva naturally washes your teeth and helps to combat bacterial colonies that grow on them. Not only that but it enhances your ability to taste and makes it easier to chew and swallow. It can be caused by a number of things such as medication side effects, radiation therapy, or general aging. If you think you may have dry mouth, contact your dentist today. Not only is dry mouth uncomfortable, but it is dangerous to the health of your teeth as well.
We recommend that you visit Mathee Dental Studio at least 2 times a year to keep your smile looking as healthy as possible! Book an appointment today.
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