Health

6 Tips for Proper Dental and Oral Health

Whether you are a parent looking to improve your child’s dental health or have poor dental habits yourself, there are steps that can be taken towards improving your oral health. The following seven tips will help you get started on making the necessary changes to ensure proper care of your mouth and teeth.

Brush Two Times A Day

Brushing your teeth is the single most important aspect of maintaining good oral hygiene. Not only does it knock off any loose tooth enamel or food particles, but it also stimulates gums and helps control bacteria in the mouth. Everyone should brush twice daily for two minutes after waking up in the morning and before going to bed at night with quality fluoride toothpaste. Brushing at least twice per day is essential for everyone, even those with braces, as flossing is not an adequate substitute for manual brushing.

Floss Every Night Before You Go To Bed

Flossing should be done once a day before going to bed at night. Flossing should be used in conjunction with brushing as it removes food particles and plaque from between teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach. Dental floss should be about 18 inches long and isn’t optional – make sure to floss every day!

See A Dentist Regularly

Dental checkups are important because they can detect any issues you may have missed during your daily oral hygiene routines. A Dentist Carrollton Texas will catch bad breath, tartar buildup, erosion, cavities, or other conditions that might need treatment before they become a larger, more expensive problem. Dental checkups are important to prevent further damage to the teeth and gums that brushing and flossing cannot fix.

Limit Sugar Intake

Sugar is one of the main causes of tooth decay because it provides food for bacteria in your mouth. You should never eat sweets by themselves as they only increase the amount of sugar you consume at once without other necessary nutrients from other foods. For example, drinking fruit juice is just as bad as eating candy because it contains excess sugar without any beneficial effects from fiber or protein like an apple would provide. Try to limit sugary snacks and meals compared to their healthier counterparts such as fruits and vegetables.

Avoid Tobacco Products

Tobacco products should be avoided as they contain nicotine that causes damage to the teeth and gums. If you are unable to quit, consider using alternative tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. Over time, these may help decrease the amount of harmful tobacco consumed because they release smaller amounts of nicotine than typical smoking does.

Limit Alcohol Intake

Similar to sugary drinks, alcoholic beverages should be consumed in moderation. Like tobacco products, alcohol contains toxins that damage teeth and gums. If you are unable to quit drinking completely then consider drinking less often or switching to a healthier alternative such as wine. Wine is a healthy substitute because it contains antioxidants that help protect the cells from free radical damage – just don’t overdo it.   

These six tips should help improve your dental health by making steps towards a more proactive approach to oral hygiene. If you have children, these are especially good habits to instill in them at an early age so that they grow up having healthy teeth throughout their lives. The time spent now on improved dental health is a great investment towards a beautiful and healthy smile for the future.