Maintaining a thorough dental hygiene routine may take some time, but it is an invaluable habit that will benefit you and your overall health in the long run.
A proper dental care routine includes the usual things like brushing your teeth, flossing and regular dentist visits but also encompasses other factors like your diet, alcohol intake and whether you smoke or not. It’s important to note that oral health includes more than just the appearance of your teeth.
How to Maintain Your Pearly Whites
If you want your teeth to remain healthy, it will require some effort on your part. Some of the most effective ways to maintain your oral health include:
- Brushing your teeth: Brush your teeth at least twice a day, especially before you go to bed. How you brush your teeth can also make a difference in its effectiveness. You should spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth and ensure you’re moving the brush in a circular motion to remove all the plaque.Check that your toothpaste contains fluoride, as it actively fights tooth decay.
- Benefits of brushing your teeth: Brushing your teeth every day can remove bacteria and plaque buildup. This helps to prevent the risk of gum disease, cavities and tooth infections.
- Flossing: Flossing also plays an important part in your dental care routine, although many fail to do so. Ideally, you should be flossing once a day.
- Benefits of flossing your teeth: Flossing removes all the tiny bits of food stuck between your teeth, removes plaque and prevents inflammation.
- Drink water: Water is by far the best thing to drink for your overall health. Dentists recommend drinking as much fluoride water as possible.
- Benefits of drinking water: Drinking water (especially fluoride water) helps prevent cavities, strengthens your teeth, washes away bacteria and keeps your gums healthy.
- Watch your diet: Sugary foods and drinks (soft drinks and alcohol) can cause cavities, weaken your teeth and cause tooth decay. An excess of certain types of alcohol, like red wine, can also stain your teeth.
- Stop smoking and vaping: Smoking and vaping can cause serious issues like an increased risk of gum disease and mouth and throat cancer. It can also cause tooth loss, decay, discolouration, and decreased sense of taste.
- Regular dental visits: You should aim to visit your dentist at least once a year, even if you have no obvious dental issues.
- Benefits of regular dentist appointments: Visiting your dentist every year means that your teeth get professionally cleaned, and you stay on top of any potential dental problems you may have. This prevents any minor issues from becoming major ones.
Potential Dental Issues
If you fail to take proper care of your oral health, it can lead to the following problems:
- Tooth decay
- Tooth loss
- Gum disease
- Cavities
- Stained teeth
- Teeth infections
- A buildup of plaque and bacteria
- Decreased sense of taste
- Mouth or throat cancer
At Bowral Street Dental Practice, we’re proud to have a comprehensive and holistic approach to dental care. We’re very aware that dental visits can be stressful for many, which is why we make your comfort our top priority. To find out more about oral health and our other dental treatments, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at (02) 4861 6576 or visit our website: https://bowralstreetdentalpractice.com.au/