When it comes to the beauty and fashion world, there are plenty of cliches that can help guide you in your style choices:
“A little black dress never goes out of style.”
“I wear my heart on my sleeve.”
“Flash those pearly whites for me.”
OK, the last one is a bit of a reach, but you can’t underestimate the importance of a healthy, happy smile. You’d think taking care of your teeth would be a breeze since it’s been a part of our nightly routine our entire lives, but the fact is that plenty of adults skip out on proper oral care.
It’s amazing to think that a large number of adults still neglect the dentist. Going to the dentist is anything but flowers and rainbows, but it’s still incredibly important for your overall oral health.
So, in case you need a refresher or are just looking to make sure you’re doing everything right. Check this out.
Six Ways To Take Care of Your Teeth
Brush Your Teeth Two Times a Day
Let’s start with the most obvious one, shall we? In order to make sure you’re keeping your teeth and gums as healthy as possible, brush them two times a day.
Generally, the best times to brush are morning and night. While you can switch it up, you always want to make sure you’re brushing before you go to bed so you are eliminating all of that bacteria that’s in your mouth before you go to sleep.
Make sure you have flouride toothpaste, which is the best option to prevent cavities and make sure your teeth are whitening as well.
Spend 2-3 minutes brushing your teeth but remember not to brush too hard, less you want receding gums and make circular motions.
Floss Daily
After brushing your teeth, you’ll want to pull out the floss. If it’s been awhile, you’re probably going to bleed but that’s normal. With regular flossing, you’ll see less and less bleeding.
Make sure you’re only flossing between two teeth at a time instead of trying to floss multiple areas at once. Doing that, you’re more likely to damage your gums and take back any advantage you gained via flossing.
Watch What You Eat and Drink
Avoid over acidic foods and drinks. There’s nothing wrong with a cup of orange juice every now and then, but drinking it on the regular is going to damage your teeth and remove the protective enamel. That will lead to holes which will eventually lead to cavities.
Try not to drink sodas either, as they are both high in acid and sugar. Don’t worry about your Halloween splurge, but don’t make it a habit to eat lots of candy or sugary substances weekly. Too much sugar can also damage your teeth, leading to more and more issues.
Use Your Teeth for Chewing
While opening a bottle with your mouth is a fun party trick, you’re not doing your oral health any favors. Refrain from opening bottles, chewing on ice, cracking open nuts, or opening anything else with your teeth.
Repeated and incorrect use could cause chips and small damages which lead to bigger problems over time.
Use Mouthwash
Start using mouthwash as part of your regular dental routine after flossing and brushing. Like brushing, the most important time of day to use your mouthwash is right before you go to sleep.
You might be tempted to use water right after you spit out your mouthwash, but don’t do it! The mouthwash still needs to do it’s work, so wait a good 5-10 minutes before taking a glass of water.
Visit the Dentist
Even if nothing is wrong with your teeth, it’s a great idea to make going to the dentist for regular visits. The word of thumb is to make sure you’re going once every six months.
No one really enjoys going to the dentist, but you have to make sure you’re going. Even though they’ll tell you you’re not flossing enough or you need to be doing X other things, staying up with these regular checkups is a surefire way to make sure you avoid any big problems down the road.
If you’re scared about going to the dentist, see if there is a sedation dentist in your area. That way, you can sleep while your teeth are being poked and prodded, none the wiser to the work that’s going on.