It takes a lifetime of care to achieve healthy teeth. Taking good care of your teeth can help you prevent problems as you get older. You should brush, rinse and floss every day and see your dentist regularly. Marvelous oral health takes more than using toothpaste, think of improving your brushing technique, saying goodbye to cigarettes, and ditching daily caffeine habits.

How do You Maintain Good Dental Health?

Here’s how you maintain good dental health:

  1. Using the Right Toothbrush

Doctors recommend a brush with soft bristles as hard bristles can be hard on your gums and teeth too! Once you start noticing the bent bristles, replace it! Even the straight bristles can become blunt and cause injury to your gums and teeth. So, brushes should be replaced within 3 months.

  1. Ditch the Soda

Who doesn’t love soda? But have you ever thought if soda is good for your teeth? Soda has two ingredients – Citric acid and phosphoric acid. These acids are not good for your teeth as it eats their surfaces. How does it happen? The acids present in soda make your enamel soft and susceptible to cavities. Switch to water instead, you can also add flavors to your water by adding citrus fruits like lemon, oranges or mint leaves or berries.

  1. Don’t Use Much Sugar

The main cause of tooth decay is sugar. It acts as a fuel to the fire as it increases bacteria and acidity in your mouth which can lead to plaque formation. Try to cut down on sugary foods, and brush your teeth after every meal.

  1. Quit Smoking

The nicotine and tar in the cigarette can discolor your teeth to slightly yellow. Smoking also creates a breeding ground for bacteria and plaque to grow on your gums and teeth. This degrades the bone that supports your teeth increasing the risk of tooth loss. Smoking also leads to mouth cancer. So, this is another reason for you to quit smoking.

  1. Floss

Have you been flossing every day? The answer isn’t yes for most of the patients. Many people think brushing their teeth twice is sufficient. However, that isn’t true. Flossing is equally important. Like brushing, there is a right way to do flossing, which doesn’t damage your gums.

  1. Watch Your Tongue

Plaque can also grow up on your tongue. Yes, you heard it right! This leads to bad mouth odor, and even lead to oral health problems. To avoid this situation, gently brush your tongue when you brush your teeth.

  1. Use a Fluoride Toothpaste

No matter what toothpaste brand you choose, make sure fluoride is in it! This is because fluoride can help fight germs that lead to tooth decay. It also makes a protective layer around your teeth.

About Confederation Dental

Confederation Dental is a dental clinic located in Mississauga. Our team is committed to providing you the best dental care whether it is a complete examination and cleaning, a full-mouth restoration, or anything in between.