Oral health is often regarded as a window to your overall health, and a healthy, functional smile can greatly impact your quality of life. It is important to establish healthy oral habits and eliminate unhealthy ones to ensure a healthy dental future. There are a number of things you can do to protect your teeth from damage, decay, and tooth loss. It is possible to keep your teeth for a lifetime. Continue reading to learn more.
1. Use Products With Fluoride
Fluoride is a trace mineral that can be found in a number of foods naturally, and it can help protect teeth from decay and cavities. Make sure your oral health routine contains products with fluoride. It is especially helpful for those who have:
- Dry mouth
- Gum disease
- A history of cavities
- Braces
2. Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Excellent oral health often starts with clean teeth, and flossing and brushing are the first steps. Brushing, especially after meals, is important for removing food particles and bacteria on the surface of the teeth. You should be brushing twice a day to maintain good oral health. Dental floss is effective at removing harmful bacteria from between the teeth. It is important for you to utilize the proper brushing and flossing techniques to get the most benefit from them. Flossing or brushing too aggressively can irritate the gums and cause bleeding. On the other hand, a lackluster approach to brushing and flossing can mean you are not effectively removing plaque, which leads to gum disease.
3. Avoid Products with Tobacco
Smoking poses a risk to the health of your smile; can lead to gum disease, tooth discoloration, and tooth loss; and can even result in mouth cancer in severe cases. The tar and nicotine in tobacco can make your teeth look yellow in a short amount of time, and heavy smoking can lead to severe discoloration over time. Smokers develop harmful plaque, which compromises the gums. Because smoking leads to a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream, the infected gums have a hard time healing, which can cause more serious issues with the gum.
4. Keep Up with Your Dental Checkups
Maintaining regular dental appointments can help Dr. Spaniel address issues before they progress into more serious conditions. For example, if your gums are showing signs of gingivitis, intervention can stop the condition from developing into advanced periodontitis, which leads to tooth loss.
Oral Health at Summerwood Aesthetic Dentistry
Proper oral health can help you keep your smile as healthy as possible. Schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Spaniel today by calling (503) 906-8600.