96% of adults have experienced at least one cavity. Regular dental checkups can keep teeth and gums strong while eliminating signs of disease. 

This article will highlight the best healthy smile tips to help you maintain healthy teeth and gums for a lifetime. 

Daily Oral Hygiene Habits

Proper oral hygiene starts with regular cleaning and brushing and should be done at least twice a day. Follow these healthy smile tips to keep your teeth and gums in tip-top shape:

• Brushing twice a day
• Proper brushing technique
• Flossing daily
• Using a recommended mouthwash
• Staying hydrated

Abandoning healthy teeth habits such as brushing your teeth twice a day will be immensely beneficial for oral health and the person as a whole. Few people are aware that brushing their teeth in the morning and before going to bed ensures that they have eliminated plaque, which causes tooth decay and gum disease. Experienced dentists in Upper East Side  Smiles+Grins recommend a soft-bristled toothbrush used for no more than three to four months.

If a toothbrush cannot reach some areas in and around the teeth, flossing gets rid of any remaining particles of food and plaque. While flossing, there is no need to push the floss between the teeth; instead, wrap it around the affected tooth and the gum line. End your rinsing with the use of fluoride or antiseptic prescribed by your dentist.

Healthy Dietary Choices for Strong Teeth

Products containing sugars and other beverages like soda and pastries promote bacterial activity and acid, causing tooth decay. Most candies and chocolates are laden with sugars, fats, and other unhealthy nutrients that are lethal to your health.

A number of dairy products, such as milk and yogurt, contain calcium to assist in building stronger tooth enamel. Spinach, almonds, and fortified plant milk are other good sources of calcium other than dairy products. Veggie snacks such as apples, carrots, and celery have their added bonus in that they also mechanically clean the teeth as the person munches on them. 

Some of the most recognizable foods that may lead to the wearing down of the enamel include oranges, lemons, tomatoes, and coffee. When you take such foods or products, you should rinse them and not use your toothbrush to clean your teeth for one hour to avoid wearing away softened enamel. 

Regular Dental Checkups and Cleanings

Cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer can be diagnosed during the early stage of a regular examination. Complications should be prevented by treating the symptoms when they appear.

Dentists and hygienists have the professional equipment and knowledge to eliminate bacteria, plaque, and tartar that cannot be brushed or flossed away. This helps to prevent gum diseases and also maintain a healthy, natural color of your teeth.

If you are concerned with the color or shape of your teeth, your dentist can give oral health tips if you wish to have a teeth whitening procedure or even orthodontic work done to improve the alignment of your teeth.

Adopting a Teeth-Friendly Lifestyle

In addition to dental care tips and food choices, a person can experience a shift in oral health due to other factors. Most commonly, the effect of smoking and other tobacco use on the teeth can cause staining, gum disease, or oral cancer. 

Drinking alcohol tends to reduce saliva production and cause mouth dryness, a condition that precipitates gum disease. You should cut down on alcoholic beverages or choose not to drink acidic beverages to protect your teeth.

People involved in contact sports would benefit from a mouth guard to protect their teeth from damage. Sports guards from your dentist are the most effective form of protection. Night grinding or clenching can also lead to wear and damage to your teeth. Your dentist may suggest a nightguard to keep your teeth safe as well as reduce the signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) including pain in the jaw and head.

Maintaining Consistency in Oral Health Habits

Approximately 68.5 million adults in the United States do not have dental insurance. Insuring your family and following healthy smile tips all year round is better than practicing them occasionally. Creating a daily regimen makes it less difficult to remember to brush and floss, among other things. If required, set reminders to build these habits in place as well. 

Correct attitudes to oral hygiene can be formed in children in the early years, and thus, they will have healthy teeth throughout their lives. To make brushing fun, you can use songs or even a chart showing a child getting a star each time he brushes.

Conclusion

Maintaining a healthy mouth all year long is not an easy thing, but it is not a futile endeavor at all. Follow the oral health tips in this guide, such as: 

• Brushing
• Flossing 
• Eating the right foods 
• Visiting the dentist 
• Embracing a dental-friendly lifestyle
• Practicing consistency 

Practical dental care goes beyond creating a white smile. It is also associated with health since various diseases have their origins in the mouth. Heed these tips today and incorporate them into your lifestyle so that you can showcase your smile at every time of year.

Published by: Khy Talara