Caring for your teeth won’t just give you a pleasing smile, but it will also play a crucial role in your overall health. Your mouth serves as the entry point for your respiratory and digestive tract.
As such, you must maintain good oral hygiene to avoid diseases both in your mouth and across your body. Gum problems and tooth decay are signs of poor oral hygiene and may cause pain, tooth loss, and even dent your self-confidence.
Overall, it can pose a challenge to your work, school, and personal life. But with proper dental care, you can avoid these problems. Here’s a detailed breakdown of three highly effective practices that can keep your gums and teeth healthy, especially ways to keep your teeth whitening.
1. Brush Your Teeth Regularly
Brushing your teeth two times every day helps remove plaque and bacteria that can build up and cause tooth decay. But brushing will only be effective if you do it frequently.
A lot of people tend to ignore brushing before they go to bed. What they don’t realize is that brushing before bed helps get rid of germs and plaque that collects during the day.
The way you brush is equally important. A shoddy job of brushing is just as bad as not brushing at all. Take your time moving the brush in circular motions to remove plaque effectively.
2. Avoid Acidic and Sugary Foods
It’s no secret that the foods you consume will affect the long-term health of your teeth.
Acidic foods can cause gradual erosion of your enamel. Too much sugary foods, on the other hand, can cause cavity buildup, which can lead to other dental problems. With time, the sugar that lingers in your mouth is broken down into micro bacteria that produce acid leading to tooth decay.
While it’s not necessary to completely eliminate these foods from your diet, it helps to be mindful of their impact and try your best to reduce how much of them you consume. Consider water as a healthier alternative to acidic beverages like sodas and juices.
3. Do Frequent Visits to Your Dentist
It may not be the appointment that you look forward to the most on your calendar, but visiting your dentist is a good way of checking if you have any issues with your dental health.
Experts recommend that everyone visit a dentist at least two times a year. The dentist will check for signs of potential cavities and oral diseases and give your teeth an intricate clean to remove hardened plaque. This will ensure that nothing alarming about your dental health goes unnoticed.
Read next: 5 Key Benefits of Having White Teeth
Is Teeth Whitening Good For You
It’s not hard to get caught by the appeal of teeth whitening. After all, who doesn’t want a brighter smile? It’s a very safe procedure that a dentist can do from their office.
Your dentist can also recommend one of the many teeth whitening products such as gel and strips that you can buy from your local pharmacist or supermarket.
Good oral hygiene is vital to keep your teeth and gums healthy.