A healthy smile is noticeable from miles away. It is also the first thing most people will notice, one of the reasons you need to maintain a good smile. Although some people may have a great natural smile, many of us have work towards creating and maintaining a healthy one. Outlined below are 10 tips on how to improve your oral health hence a glowing smile.
- Floss Daily
Brushing your teeth every day isn’t enough to maintain good oral health. Dentists recommend following every day to help remove plaque in between teeth and areas toothbrush bristles cannot reach. Failure to remove food particles and bacteria hidden in these crevices only lead to tartar buildup and plague in the gumlines. Heavy plague buildup is known to cause tooth loss and destruction of the dental bone due to periodontal disease.
For the best results, wrap the floss around your index finger then insert it between teeth. Start sliding it gently under the gumlines using up and down motions 2 to 3 times. Should you start bleeding, this is a sign of gum disease or gingivitis. Continue flossing each day until the bleeding stops. If flossing seems too much for your liking, you can try oral irrigator instead. An oral irrigator works by spraying mouthwash or water in between teeth thus removing food particles and plague.
- See Your Dentist Twice Annually
Setting appointments with your dentist at least twice in a year can help address any dental issues you might have. The dentist should be able to pick even the slightest sign of periodontal disease due to irregular cleanings and treat it before it becomes too big an issue. Periodontal disease is mainly characterized by bleeding, receding, and swollen gums. These signs are also linked to other dangerous conditions such as stroke, heart attack, obesity, diabetes, sleep apnea, and premature birth.
The dental hygienists should be able to remove tartar and stain from your teeth, as well as screen you for conditions such as oral cancer and hypertension. Most fatal health conditions manifest in the mouth, a reason a dentist can pick their signs early in advance. Unless there’s no reason for concern, the dental hygienist should be able to refer you to a qualified doctor for farther tests.
- Quit Smoking
Smoking can have a significant impact on your smile and dental health. This is because the teeth enamel absorbs some of the smoke and nicotine causing the teeth to stain. The stain starts superficially though can permeate deep into the enamel making it hard to polish it off. Cigarette smoke contains toxic compounds known to cause damage to healthy gums as well. These toxic gases cause gums to develop large pockets and even recede around your teeth. This is one of the reasons a smoker’s teeth seem longer and with darker spaces in between. Some of these effects are almost impossible to reverse, a reason you should avoid/quit smoking altogether for better oral health.
- Reduce Your Intake of Tea, Coffee, and Red Wine
Just like cigarette smoke, red wine, tea, and coffee contain compounds that stain teeth easily. Simply drinking wine causes a buildup of superficial stain on your teeth, which can be polished off if one brushes teeth immediately after. Prolonged exposure to these compounds can cause internal staining of the enamel this is much harder to clean.
If possible, consider using a straw to drink wine or coffee. This reduces your teeth’s exposure to the beverage, hence considerably much safer. You might also want to rinse your mouth with water to wash away the dark liquid from between teeth. Do not let coffee or wine to sit in your mouth for too long.
- Be Careful with Teeth Whitening Products
Teeth whitening products help get rid of stains on your teeth thus giving you whiter teeth, hence a more radiant smile. With numerous such products on the market, finding just the right one for the job can be an overwhelming task. This is because you get to choose between gel pens, toothpaste, rinses, strips, custom trays, over-the-counter trays, and laser whitening options. Tooth whitening toothpaste and rinses are only effective for removing stains from coffee and light stains. Gel pens only come in handy in addressing small spot stains, while custom trays are recommended for more dramatic results.
- Invest in A Good Toothbrush
Although manual toothbrushes are more popular, electric toothbrushes are known to be more effective and especially in removing plaque. Some of the best electric toothbrushes out there come with several features and modes that allow for sensitive teeth, whitening, and regular brushing. Investing in a good quality toothbrush can help clean and maintain good oral health.
If you aren’t a fan of electric toothbrushes, you should then consider investing in a soft-bristled manual toothbrush. Dentists advise against hard bristled toothbrushes for they contribute to enamel erosion, as well as cause gums to recede. Soft-bristled brushes are much safer, hence a safer bet.
- Drink Lots of Water
Water is essential for good health. Learning to drink lots of water, and flushing your teeth using the same discourages tooth decay. In addition to this, water helps maintain proper pH levels in the mouth, with dentists advising people to take tap water. Tap water contains the recommended fluoride dosage which not only discourages tooth decay but promotes oral health. If possible, avoid sugary or acidic drinks for they only alter pH levels increasing the risk of tooth decay.
- Work Towards Improving Your Overall Health
Most health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, bruxism, and obesity are known to have an impact on a person’s oral health and smile. These conditions cause a lot of strain to your oral health thus affecting your smile negatively. Nevertheless, learning to manage these conditions, or working to avoid contracting the same, can help improve your smile significantly. Regular body exercise, eating right, and taking on preventative measures come in handy in improving your oral health.
- Seek Dental Attention on Time
Left untreated, even the smallest tooth cavity or dental condition can turn fatal. Seeking medical attention early enough can help prevent some of these conditions from exploding. Sometimes all you need to avoid a large tooth abscess is a little filling. Having the tooth cavity handled on time eliminates the need for a crown or root canal. Having these conditions addressed early in advance reduces the risk of infecting other healthy teeth and gums. This will help you to start to gain a great smile today.
- Brush Your Teeth After Every Main Meal
Learn to brush your teeth after every main meal. This includes breakfast, lunch, and supper. This helps remove food particles as well as lower the risk of plague in the mouth. Experts recommend brushing at least twice daily for better oral health. Brushing every day helps maintain white and healthier teeth. How you brush your teeth does play a significant role in your oral health. You should hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle., and apply just enough pressure to remove food particles from the teeth. You should also use small strokes and brush for at least 2 minutes for the best results.
Learn to Smile Again
Taking on the measures and tips outlined above can help you have whiter teeth and improved oral health. These play a huge role in the quality of smile. Although you will not see changes overnight, you might want to start smiling again. It is by learning to smile again that people will take note of, and admire the radiant smile.