Let’s Celebrate New Year with Good Oral Health

Typically, poor oral hygiene is the mother of most dental problems. If you take proper care of your teeth, the risk of cavities and dental infections reduces drastically. That’s one of the most crucial oral health benefits. Thankfully, taking proper care of your teeth is not difficult. In this blog, we will discuss tips to help you take proper care of your teeth.

But before we get there, let’s discuss why your smile should be healthy. Benefits of a healthy smile include:

• Makes a person seem smarter: People with clean and healthy smiles are considered smarter and more trustworthy.
• Makes you a happier person: When you have a healthy and beautiful smile, you will smile more. When you smile, your body releases endorphins (feel-good chemicals), elevating your mood and making you a happier person.
• It prevents dental infections and cavities, which can be expensive to treat.
• A healthy smile ensures you protect and preserve your natural teeth.

Vital Tips for Oral Health

Now that you know the importance of a healthy smile follow these tips to help you maintain proper oral hygiene.

Always Brush Your Teeth before Going to Bed

Typically, it is recommended that we should brush our teeth at least twice a day. Brush in the morning when you wake up and at night before going to bed. You will remove any bacteria buildup from the night when you brush in the morning. When you brush at night, you get rid of food particles caught between teeth, reducing the risk of bacteria buildup.

Use the Right Brushing Techniques

Brushing your teeth is more than moving your toothbrush on your teeth. Poor brushing techniques are as bad as not brushing at all.

You should always brush your teeth for at least two minutes. While at it, move your toothbrush in a circular manner to remove any plaque buildup on your teeth. If plaque continues building up, it leads to tartar, which is tougher to remove. Your dentist will teach you the right brushing techniques. That’s why it is crucial to visit the dentist every six months.

Don’t Forget Your Tongue.

Some of us remember to brush our teeth at least twice a day but forget about the tongue. The tongue can also be a home for bacteria. It is crucial to brush it as well.

Use Fluoride Toothpaste

Most tap water in the US contains fluoride, but that amount is not always enough. That’s why it is crucial to use fluoride toothpaste and get a fluoride treatment once in a while. Fluoride helps strengthen a person’s teeth and prevents cavities.

Floss Every Night

While brushing gets rid of most food particles, it is always not enough. Your brush may fail to reach some food particles between teeth. These particles react with bacteria in the mouth, making acids responsible for cavities. Flossing gets rid of all food particles between teeth, reducing the risk for cavities.

Use a Mouthwash

Mouthwashes have become pretty popular in recent years, but some people are not sure about how mouthwashes can help them. Well, mouthwashes are very helpful.

They contain antibacterial elements that can help reduce bacteria action in the mouth. Also, they help neutralize acids in the mouth and clean hard-to-reach areas. Your dentist will help you choose the right mouthwash for yourself and for your kid.

Take Enough Water

It is recommended that we should take eight glasses of water daily. Taking enough water has many benefits to your general and oral health. Water washes away sticky foods and reduces the adverse effects of acids in the mouth. It also helps with the production of saliva, which is vital for your oral health.

Limit Your Sugar Intake and Increase Your Fruit and Vegetable Intake

Vegetables and fruits contain fiber, which keeps your jaw working, improving your oral health. Sugary foods, on the other hand, encourage the formation of acids that leads to cavities. Since you can’t avoid sugary foods entirely, take them with moderation. Then, brush your teeth 30 minutes after taking them.

Visit the Dentist for Checkups

Your dentist will guide you throughout your oral journey, ensuring you have a healthy smile. At Kids First Dental (Greenwood), we promise to help your child grow cavity-free. Our pediatric dentist in Greenwood, Dr. John Patangan, is full of experience, and you can count on him for preventive and emergency dental services. Book an appointment now.