Steps to Take Care of Your Teeth

You can do many things for your teeth and regular oral hygiene at home is just the beginning. Fortunately, taking care of your teeth is easy as long as you follow the advice of your dentist or dental hygienist in Auckland.

It all begins with the basics. Toothbrushing, flossing and rinsing are all an important part of your day. They are what should start and what end each day when it comes to caring for your teeth. Unfortunately, not everyone takes care of their teeth the way they should. Our lives are busy and full of any number of priorities. Sometimes dental care takes a back seat to something seen as more important. Though it might seem mundane, your dental care is vital not only for oral health, but overall health and wellbeing.

Dental Care is Critical

Plaque and debris build up on your teeth, particularly after you’ve eaten. You need to wash this sticky substance away from the teeth and gums before it can do any damage. The problem with plaque involves the bacteria it contains. Everyone’s mouth has bacteria, some of it starts breaking down sugary and starchy substances before they leave your mouth. These processes produce acid which damages the crystalline structure of the enamel and leads to decay. During the early stages the enamel simply softens, but as soon as a cavity forms, it is permanent damage. Similarly, bacteria can lead to gum disease when acids and infection irritate the soft tissue. The early stages are known as gingivitis, and include symptoms like redness, swelling and tenderness. If the infection gets worse it leads to periodontitis when deep pockets form along the gumline and teeth start to loosen, shift or even fall out. Reduce your risk of these serious dental problems with simple oral hygiene routines at home.

Brushing Your TeethWhen selecting a toothbrush, choose one recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA). That means these products have undergone rigorous testing to ensure quality, safety and effectiveness. Be sure to sanitize it daily. Not everyone remembers to complete this final step, but it’s an important way preventing more germs from entering your mouth. Disinfecting a toothbrush is easy, simply soak it in antibacterial mouthwash, rinse it with steaming hot water or you can run it through the dishwasher. It’s that easy. Also, remember to change your toothbrush, or toothbrush head every three months. Then when you brush your teeth, make sure you spend a full two or three minutes brushing all surfaces of your teeth twice a day, every day. Anything less than that is insufficient. You can use a timer if you need help tracking the time and try to start at a different place each time you brush to help break you out of the norm and focus more on technique. .

Flossing Your Teeth
Floss daily. Though it’s not everyone’s favorite part of taking care of their teeth and is often forgotten, flossing plays an essential role in top quality dental care. Even the best toothbrush on the market cannot effectively get between all of the little crevices. That’s what floss is meant to do. You can use floss string, floss ribbon or floss picks. Wrap the floss around each tooth individually. Then, instead of just cracking the floss into the gums, use a gentle sawing motion to remove plaque and debris. If you are totally against dental floss, or if you wear hard to clean orthodontic hardware, then consider investing in a water flosser. This handy tool will flush debris from between your teeth and your gum line using a gentle burst of water.

Rinsing Your TeethUsing mouthwash can help kill the remaining bacteria in your mouth. We recommend an alcohol-free mouthwash. While antiseptic mouthwashes have their advantages, many people experience discomfort when using them for the recommended amount of time. If you already have a history of decay or gum disease, then you may want to consider an antibacterial mouthwash prescribed by the dentist.

Maintaining Regular Dental Visits
Besides your daily routine, see a dentist at family dentistry in Troy, Ohio, for regular check-ups. This will help to ensure your teeth and gums get the attention they deserve and remain healthy. If a problem arises, your dentist can find it early and determine the best treatment options before the problem worsens and causes permanent damage.

Getting Regular Dental CleaningsThey should be performed by your dentist or hygienist every six months or so. These professional cleanings take care of what your routines miss, which might be more than you would expect.

Choosing Healthy Foods and Limiting Snacking
Making healthy choices at home is also important to keep your teeth healthy. Most of us snack at least once during the day. If you do, make sure you are choosing healthy options, not just because it’s better for your body, but because it’s also better for your teeth. Sugary sweets and starchy treats are okay on special occasions, but they should be either avoided or limited the
rest of the time. Better choices include crunchy foods like apples, and raw vegetables.

Paying Attention to What You Drink
Mind what you drink as well. If your drink is dark, it’s very likely going to have some stain-causing properties in it. If it is acidic, it can wear away the enamel. If it is sugary, it could lead to decay. So choose healthier options like water and milk to drink daily, and save soda, juices and sports drinks for minimal use. Also, if you must consume it, use a straw whenever possible. This will help direct the liquid past your teeth and to the back of the mouth.

Stop SmokingTobacco products also lead to stained teeth and have the potential to raise your risk for oral cancer as well. It’s best to avoid them entirely.