What does it really take to keep your smile healthy, and looking its best? Is brushing your teeth each morning and night enough? How about if you floss occasionally? Even if you think your smile seems healthy, because you’re not struggling with dental discomfort, is there more you could be doing to make sure you enjoy great oral health as you continue to age? The answer to that question is yes. There is likely more that could be done to help prevent dental issues, and to help keep your smile looking lovely. Perhaps best of all, preventive dental care might just be simpler than you think!
Keep Your Smile Healthy with These Simple Steps
Just like your body needs a combination of at-home care, and preventive visits, so does your smile. And you probably already know that you should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day, and flossing once a day as well. But what else is required to enjoy great oral health?
Dental hygiene includes brushing and flossing, but your dietary choices have a huge impact on your oral health as well. That is why dentists recommend eating nutrient-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and dairy products. But it’s just as important to avoid eating foods that aren’t good for your smile, like too much sugar, which can, over time, lead to cavities and even gum disease.
Drinking plenty of water is also helpful for limiting plaque buildup and preventing other dental issues. Just try to drink water throughout the day, and limit sugary beverages like sodas, sweetened teas and coffees, and even many juices and sports drinks (which are often high in sugar, as well).
But the other part of preventive care, that many people overlook, is that dental checkups are crucial to maintaining great oral care. A checkup and cleaning is a great time for the dentist to remove any tartar on the teeth, and also to treat any dental issues that have arisen. A filling can be used to help prevent a cavity from leading to an infection, for instance, while ultrasonic scaling can often reverse the symptoms of gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease.
Most people need to visit the dentist at least every six months for dental checkups and cleanings, but some will require more frequent visits. Ask your dentist what he or she recommends, based on your smile’s current oral health and other contributing factors like your overall health, lifestyle, and dental history.