Top Tips for Terrific Teeth & Oral Health!

Taking good care of your teeth is something that you should be doing throughout your life. After all, prevention is far better than the cure. So, if you have kids, these are the kinds of habits that you will want to instill in them from a young age. And it can’t hurt to remind yourself of them even if you are an adult! So, here are a few top tips for terrific teeth that you can carry with you during your lifetime (beyond the obvious brushing and flossing advice).

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Visit the Dentist as Often as Recommended

As well as the habits that you do yourself, visiting the dentist on a regular basis is part of any good oral health regime. Your dentist can help you to identify any problems that may occur at an early stage so you know how best to deal with them. They can also provide you with specific advice and tips that you can use. You may also find that you need to seek out orthodontics for kids to get your children’s teeth straightened. Ultimately, visiting the professionals on a regular basis can make all the difference.

Consider Your Diet

A poor diet can contribute massively to poor oral hygiene so you should investigate what you are eating. An excess of sugary drinks and snacks is never going to be a good thing, as these have been shown to speed up the process of tooth decay. A few examples of food and drink which have been shown to be kind to teeth include cheese, crackers, fresh water and milk. A lot of processed food contains more sugar than you would automatically think, so you should always look at labels and packaging before purchase.

Follow the One Hour Rule

The one hour rule is a good one to follow as it is a straightforward way of remembering when to brush your teeth. It takes roughly 40 minutes for your mouth to neutralise the acid caused by eating, so it is best to wait an hour after eating to brush your teeth to be safe. If you brush your teeth too soon after eating, this can cause tiny particles of enamel to be brushed away. You can help your mouth by rinsing it out with cold water after eating.

Teeth, Not Tools!

Using your teeth for anything other than eating is a disaster waiting to happen. Using them as a bottle opener is a common party trick, but it is actually one which could prove to be very dangerous for your mouth. Even biting open softer packaging can prove to be problematic. If you do happen to cause any damage to your teeth in any way, you should take a trip to the emergency dentist at the earliest possible opportunity. 

Establish A Brushing Routine

Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening should be an established part of your routine, but many people skip one of these on a regular basis. You should make sure you wait at least half an hour after eating as there is still a lot of acid in your mouth at this time, and the enamel on your teeth is softer. Try to choose a toothbrush that has soft bristles which are gentler on your gums. You should brush your teeth for at least two minutes and get right to the back. Try to stick to a routine that covers all areas of your teeth and doesn’t just focus on the front ones. Also, think about brushing your tongue which can also build up bacteria that can be transferred back onto your teeth.

Use Fluoride Toothpaste   

Major advances have been made in the last few years in toothpaste. The best kind is some variety of fluoride toothpaste which has been recommended for kids and adults alike. This has been proven to harden your tooth enamel and significantly reduces your risk of developing some kind of tooth decay.

Limit Acidic and Sugary Drinks

Try to drink more water and less sugary soft drinks and fruit juices. Many people drink far more than they need to and this is a major cause of tooth decay and cavities. The acid in these drinks softens tooth material, as well as the minerals in tooth enamel. In the most extreme cases, teeth are eaten right down to the gum.

Floss Once A Day

Flossing helps to remove bits of food and plaque that gets stuck in between your teeth which cannot be reached by brushing alone. The first couple of times you try this, you may find your gums bleeding but try to persevere through this. It should stop after the first few times. If it doesn’t, this may be a sign of some gum problems so you should consult your dentist as soon as possible.

Following these pieces of advice can really help you out when it comes to your long-term dental health. After all, you only get one set of teeth (well, two if you are a kid) so you need to look after them properly.