Good oral hygiene needs a team to really maintain. This team consists of your dentist in Superior and you! You can be confident that your dentist will do their part to keep your teeth strong and healthy, but are you doing everything in your power to keep your smile in good health while you’re away from your local dental practice?
Maintain Good Oral Health Away from Your Dentist
Taking care of your teeth and gums takes a certain level of consciousness. Everything that you eat, drink, or put in your mouth affects your oral health. If you pay attention to these tips from your local dentist, you will naturally take better care of your teeth.
Brush your teeth at least two times a day.
When you brush your teeth in the morning, you’re removing dental bacteria that grew and multiplied in your mouth overnight while you were sleeping. It’s just as important to brush your teeth at night. You’re working to remove food particles and leftover debris that have been in your mouth since the beginning of the day. To reach every area of the mouth, be sure to brush your teeth for at least two minutes a day.
Floss your teeth at least once a day.
Many people skip out on this in their dental routine, but it’s critical to keeping your mouth healthy! Flossing removes plaque from hard to reach areas (between teeth), cleaning up to 35% more of your teeth’s surfaces!
Stay hydrated with water.
Dry mouth can negatively affect your oral health—and cause bad breath! Drink lots of water to keep your mouth and body hydrated. It’s best to drink at least 8oz glasses of water 8 times a day. Drinking copious amounts of water not only keeps your mouth smelling fresh, but it can keep and your whole body healthy.
Include vitamin rich foods in your diet (vegetables and fruits).
High fiber foods are some of the best foods for your smile. Their crunchy nature naturally scrubs your smile free of debris when you chew and simultaneously create stimulate saliva flow. Creating more natural saliva is beneficial to your teeth in three ways:
- It neutralizes acids.
- Contains natural calcium.
- Embodies natural phosphates that are great for the smile.
Avoid using tobacco products and limit your alcohol consumption.
Tobacco is one of the worst substances for your smile. Not only does it stain your teeth in very quick periods of time, but it can make your gums unhealthy and lead to gum disease—you could even face severe tooth loss! It also directly affects your overall health and can cause oral cancer as well as lung cancer.
As mentioned above, keeping your mouth completely healthy takes a team. Your dentist is here to help and offer advice for improved home care when you need it.
About Our Office
Dr. Clark & Clark are a father-son team that’s ready to address all of your dental needs. Even if you just need helpful tips on how to optimize your home care, we’re here for you. We can also help you to develop a dental treatment plan to make sure that you reach your oral heath goals. Contact us today!