With the New Year in motion, health is a top priority among individuals seeking to improve themselves. Many New Year’s resolutions include diets, exercise, and career goals with the hope of breaking old habits and creating a healthier lifestyle. However, one of the most important objectives all year round is giving your dental health and hygiene extra attention in your everyday routine.
With the chaos of everyday life, oral health often gets overlooked. It is important to develop a strategy to strengthen your teeth and prevent decay. Studies show that many individuals do not follow all required dentist recommendations and are not correctly cleaning their smile. Follow these easy techniques to help your teeth stay clean and healthy.
- Brush your teeth twice a day
- Floss your teeth properly
- Eat nutritious food
- Drink an abundance of water
1.Brush your teeth twice a day.
According to a study by Delta Dental, “Nearly seven out of 10 Americans brush their teeth at least twice a day but more than 30 percent aren’t brushing enough.”
Brushing twice a day removes bacteria and particles of food from the mouth to prevent cavities. Professionals recommend brushing for a full two minutes to ensure that teeth are cleaned properly to avoid plaque buildup. Brushing your teeth once in the morning and once at night will fortify your smile’s strength.
A soft bristle brush will feel gentle on the teeth and gums and provide a safe thorough teeth cleaning. Brushing in a circular motion is essential to prevent brushing too hard which can lead to gum erosion.
Electric toothbrushes are an effective way to clean more surfaces of the teeth than a manual toothbrush. The rotation and oscillation of the brush gently removes plaque that a manual toothbrush cannot always reach. Less energy is used to simply guide the brush along your teeth. The powerful electric brush forces plaque off of each tooth and provides a comprehensive clean. The American Dental Association, states that “a toothbrush should be replaced every three to four months.” If the bristles of the brush are exhausted, the brush will not provide a proper cleaning.
Toothpaste that contains fluoride is necessary to incorporate valuable minerals into your oral care. Fluoride strengthens enamel and helps prevent decay, gum disease, and tartar.
According to the American Dental Association, “Fluoride is nature's cavity fighter and occurs naturally in varying amounts in water sources such as rivers, lakes and even the oceans.”
2. Floss your teeth properly.
Flossing is often skipped over and avoided completely. Flossing properly can be a challenging task. According to a survey by Delta Dental, “Only four of ten Americans floss at least once a day and 20 percent never floss.” Flossing twice a day prevents food in between the teeth from turning into tartar. Once tartar is formed on the tooth’s surface, a dentist visit is the only way to remove it with necessary tools.
Floss is able to grasp areas that the toothbrush cannot attain. This step wards off gum disease and gingivitis. Wrapping floss around each tooth in a C shape guarantees that food is removed from the most challenging places to reach. According to the American Dental Association, “Interdental cleaning is proven to help remove debris between teeth that can contribute to plaque buildup.”
3. Eat nutritious food.
Many super foods not only are healthy for the body but also help teeth maintain their stamina. Limiting your sugar consumption prevents the teeth from developing cavities. Foods such as apples, avocados, fish, and cheese are packed with vitamins that boost oral health. Calcium, protein, and minerals are just some of the beneficial ingredients that are helpful for the enamel.
- Cheese. Cheese and milk are known to strengthen the bones in the body but have acid fighting components in the mouth when consumed. Cheese contains calcium, protein, and casein phosphate that protect teeth from acid and achieves cleaning properties that prevent the formation of plaque.
- Apples. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples contain a powerful anti-oxidant known as Vitamin C. This creates saliva production that fights off unwanted bacteria. The action of biting into the apple actually provides an organic way of flushing the bad properties off of your teeth.
- Fish. Fish is known to help the heart and skin. Fish consists of Omega 3’s and Vitamin D that can soothe your teeth and prevent inflammation.
- Avocados. Avocados present many different vitamins such as Vitamin B5, Vitamin E, and potassium. Avocados strengthen teeth by contributing fiber to protect enamel.
4. Drink an abundance of water.
Many manufactured beverages promote health but are actually packed with sugar. Drinking water throughout the day can flush food and residue from your mouth. Water contains fluoride, which is a natural mineral that prevents cavities and buildup on the teeth. H2O also helps saliva production. When your mouth does not produce enough saliva, your teeth become susceptible to decay.
These 4 easy steps will benefit your oral health and will have you feeling strong and confident in 2019. Thorough dental care is necessary to attain a beautiful smile. What will you do this year to keep your smile healthy?
