Having a beautiful and healthy smile is important. Not only does it leave a great first impression, but it helps your oral health in the long-term. Although regular dental checkups are important, it’s also good to keep your teeth clean in between cleaning. There are lots of ways to help you do this. From brushing at the correct time to eating the right foods, there are so many things you can be doing to help keep your teeth cleaning in between cleanings. Keep reading to find out what our dentist in midtown NYC recommends!
Do you ever leave the dentist running your tongue along your teeth? Do you notice how clean and sparkling your teeth suddenly are? There are tips for keeping that feeling without needing to go to the dentist daily. Because guess what? That feeling can last all year round!
Our first tip is to say goodbye to soda. It has so much sugar in it that eats away at the enamel that covers your teeth. Drinking a lot of soda is one of the main reasons why people get cavities. It’s best and overall healthiest to stick to drinking water. If you do have a soda beverage every now and then it’s okay. If you do, try and drink water afterward so the sugars don’t stay on your teeth.
Since the main reason why soda is so bad for your teeth is the sugar in it, it’s a good idea to stay away from all sugar. Sugar increases the amount of acidity in the mouth which can cause a plaque buildup leading to tooth decay. Try and limit the amount of sugar you consume daily.
Of course, most of these habits would be great to break for your overall health, but this one is especially bad and bad for your teeth. Smoking does more damage than you may think. Nicotine and tar are both leading causes of gum disease. Both of which are in a cigarette. Smoking also increases the likelihood of getting oral cancer according to the latest dental information When it comes to oral health, smoking is a habit you want to quit as soon as possible. The final reason why smoking is bad for your oral health is that it can cause missing teeth. If you have seen a long-term smoker, they probably have a couple of teeth missing. Teeth do a number on your teeth and can cause them to end up falling out. Keep your beautiful smile and say no to cigarettes.
It’s important not to just brush as hard as you can for two minutes twice a day. There is a technique that is involved in brushing the teeth. Make sure you are holding the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and using short and circular motions when you brush over each tooth.
The goal is to brush each tooth in your mouth 10-15 times. This means even the ones at the very back. This technique will help greatly keep your mouth clean. Many people do not realize this and simply brush their teeth to brush. If you are unsure of the exact angle your toothbrush should be touching your teeth, make sure to ask at your next dental appointment for them to go over it. They will be happy to do so so that you have a healthier mouth!
Are you flossing daily? Flossing is so important and so many people neglect their teeth by not flossing. Flossing helps not only the teeth but the gums too. You can cause serious damage to your teeth if you are not flossing. Make sure you do not press too hard or this can hurt your gums. Be gentle and floss daily.
Just like the technique we talked about, make sure you are not going too hard on your teeth. They are very sensitive and being too aggressive can cause them a lot of harm. Try and be gentle with each stroke and while flossing. Make sure to change your toothbrush every 3 months. You are doing this because it is healthy, not because you have overused it so much.
Did you know that chewing gum is very healthy? If you have a sweet tooth, try grabbing some gum to satisfy you. Make sure to grab sugar-free gum though. This will help to increase the amount of saliva in your mouth with which prevent bacteria from getting to any food that has been left over in your mouth which can cause decay. Grab yourself sugar-free gum and throw it in your car. Your breath and overall oral health will thank you for it.
We already talked about the negatives about sugar. Did you know that some foods are helpful for your teeth? Back in the day people did not have the luxury of toothpaste and a toothbrush and had to brush using natural foods. This worked so well still, and you can be doing this too. You will naturally be cleaning your teeth while eating.
Foods like carrots, apply, and celery will help to naturally clean your teeth. Although you should still follow the same routine and brush your teeth at night, they will help to keep your teeth even cleaner. There’s no such thing as too healthy of teeth and gums. So, when you have finished a meal, try eating one of these foods to help wash away any food left over and naturally clean your teeth with them.
It’s much easier and cheaper to keep your mouth healthy and clean and perhaps have small issues that arise along the way than not caring for your teeth and consistently needing to fix large issues. This is one of the major reasons why it’s so important to keep your teeth cleaned in between cleanings. For more tips, contact us today!