Who doesn’t want to maintain a healthy and beautiful smile? Yet many people feel confused or even discouraged by what it actually takes to prevent dental problems and to preserve one’s oral health. If you have struggled with frequent dental cavities or other oral health problems in the past, you may be especially interested in learning how to prevent additional issues in the future. Whatever your motivation, though, now is certainly a good time to learn what more can be done to protect your teeth against further decay. Preventive dentistry is not difficult, either, it just takes a combination of excellent at-home care and routine dental visits!
1. Drink More Water, and Eat a Well-Balanced Diet
What you eat and drink affects your oral health as much as your dental hygiene. A well-balanced diet filled with nutrient-rich foods, and plenty of water, can go a long way in helping to protect your oral health. That is because your teeth and gums need vitamins and water, just like the rest of your body, to remain strong and well-functioning.
It is also important that you avoid consuming too much sugar, which can be particularly detrimental to one’s smile. That is because the plaque bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar.
2. Brush and Floss Daily!
Most people know they should brush their teeth twice a day, and may even do so. Yet many Americans fail to floss their teeth regularly, and flossing is just as essential to preserving one’s oral health as brushing. That is because flossing is specifically designed to help remove food particles and bacteria from between the teeth, where brush bristles cannot reach. So take the few extra minutes each day that are required to floss your teeth. Your smile will thank you!
3. Visit Your Dentist Regularly for Key Preventive Care
A healthy diet and great dental hygiene are important to keeping your smile healthy, but they are not sufficient for protecting the smile. That is because plaque bacteria can calcify onto the surface of teeth, and create tartar, which can only be removed through a professional cleaning. Routine dental visits including both checkups and cleanings are also essential to maintain one’s oral heath.
Most patients need to visit the dentist at least twice a year to keep their smiles healthy. If you are prone to cavities or struggling with gum disease, though, you may need more frequent visits.
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