58% of Americans see the dentist twice a year, yet over 80% of them believe oral health is essential.
One thing is for certain: taking care of your teeth by visiting the dentist and caring for your teeth in between is incredibly important.
At our Boise caring dentistry office, we want your oral health to be in tip-top shape. That’s why we’ve compiled a few tips to help ensure your teeth are healthy in-between visits.
Keeping on top of your oral health is the best way to avoid having extensive procedures in the future.
Read on for more information.
1. Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day
This may seem like a no-brainer, but many people forget to brush their teeth and may only brush them once per day. You need to make a habit for both you and your family to begin brushing your teeth twice a day, once in the morning and the evening.
You should brush your teeth for two minutes and be firm but not aggressive. If you have young children, you may wish to do a two-minute song to ensure they don’t get bored and stop brushing. This can even make brushing your teeth a special family experience.
If you live with only adults, consider getting a timer for your bathroom.
2. Replace Your Toothbrush At Least Every Three Months
You should replace your toothbrush at least once every three months. You should replace it more often if the bristles start to fray and are less effective. Your toothbrush should have soft bristles to gently remove the plaque.
3. Make Sure You Brush All of Your Teeth
You may think you are getting all of your teeth, even if you’re following the two-minute rule, but you may find yourself surprised. Often, we miss the back teeth or behind our teeth, and this can cause a build-up of plaque or even cause decay. It can also lead to more expensive and invasive procedures in the future that you’ll likely want to avoid.
4. Floss Regularly
Only 30% of Americans floss at least once per day. The seemingly endless reminders from dentists to floss more often come from concerns for more than just oral health.The connection between gum disease and heart disease has been heavily researched and the benefits certainly seem worth the trouble of regular flossing.
Flossing should be part of both your and your children’s daily routines. Either in the morning or the evening, you should spend time flossing your teeth. This can significantly cut down on the growth of bacteria or plaque and lead to overall better dental health.
5. Use Fluoride
Fluoride is essential to overall dental health and can decrease the need for fillings in the future. A lack of fluoride can also lead to tooth decay.
Some cities or states have fluoride added to their water to supplement the citizens’ dental health. Boise does not have fluoride supplements, but it does have .20-.60 mg/L, depending on what part of the city you’re in.
As such, we recommend that you use a toothbrush and a mouthwash with fluoride in it to keep your pearly whites white.
6. Eat Well
We understand it is easy to get in the habit of grabbing fast food or drinking a sugary drink, or having candy as a snack. However, foods that are bad for your overall health are also bad for your dental health. Sugary drinks and snacks can contribute to tooth decay, even if you brush your teeth two times a day or more. That’s because most people don’t brush their teeth right after the snack, and the sugar can settle in, causing problems later on down the road.
If you’re a fan of sugary drinks, we recommend that you cut down to one a day or less if possible. Water is a much healthier drink for both your body and your overall oral health.
You should also be mindful of sugar-filled candies that you suck on or gum with sugar in it. These tend to stick around in your mouth for a longer time period and lead to tooth decay.
7. Brush Your Tongue
You don’t have to buy a special tongue scraper or do anything fancy, but we do recommend that you brush your tongue.
Brushing your tongue can help manage bacteria that hides in the crevices and elevations and can make your breath smell better. And unfortunately, just rinsing with mouthwash or water won’t be able to break up the bacteria like brushing will.
8. Avoid Smoking
Smoking can cause your teeth to turn yellow and can also do the same thing to your tongue. Smoking can lead to overall health problems like lung cancer, but it can also lead to throat cancer or tongue cancer.
Additionally, smoking can make it much more difficult for you to heal after dental procedures and is a major factor for gum disease.
Smoking is detrimental for your health in general, so it is best avoided for both your oral and bodily health.
Visit Our Boise Caring Dentistry
One of the best ways to stay on top of your oral health is to visit the dentist twice a year. You should visit a place like ours, a Boise caring dentistry, that can help prevent gum disease and stop problems before they start. By visiting the dentist twice a year, even if your mouth isn’t giving you trouble, you can ensure your teeth are in the shape they should be.
While we often overlook our teeth when we think about our health, they are a vital part of it. Without them, or if you have an issue with them, it can severely impact your well-being.
Make an appointment with us today and stay on top of your dental health.
