Taking care of our teeth is a crucial component of taking care of our mental and physical health. After all, smiling not only spreads joy and positivity, but it increases the production of endorphins (happy chemicals) and helps reduce stress. In this blog, we’ll go over the top tips for taking care of your teeth and thus taking care of yourself!

Where to Start

If you already have oral hygiene habits in place, then utilize this article as a means to double-check your routine and see if you’re hitting all of the most important areas. If not, then you can get started by following these basic tips

• Brushing Every Morning and Evening

• • • It sounds like an easy task, but brushing twice a day is often overlooked. If you’re not in the habit of it, it can feel like a chore. The best way to overcome the feeling of brushing being a chore is to make it an automatic habit. An automatic habit is when your brain does not have to think about what is it doing before it does it, such as putting your seat belt on when settling into the car. Making a task an automatic habit starts with awareness. So start paying attention to how often you ignore the thoughts of needing to brush your teeth, make excuses not to do it, or don’t think about it at all. Once you become aware of this, you can begin catching and correcting yourself. The more you do this, the more often you’ll brush, and eventually it will become an automatic habit!

• Flossing Everyday

• • • Getting into the habit of flossing is much like getting into the habit of brushing, but depending on the person, can be even more of a chore. Flossing is extremely important to cavity prevention and keeping your teeth strong and healthy throughout the years. Flossing is more than just pushing the floss into the space between your teeth and pulling it out again. It takes a bit more diligence and is way more beneficial if you take the time to move the floss up both sides of the gum lines that come down over each tooth. If you’re unsure of how to do this, the dentist at Bridge Creek Dental is more than happy to give you a comprehensive lesson on proper flossing techniques. 

• Using Fluoride Mouthwash

• • • This is a great tool for cavity prevention. However, it is not an alternative to brushing and flossing and does not do as good of a job if you don’t clean your teeth beforehand. A good rule of thumb is to swish the mouthwash in your mouth for at least one minute and refrain from eating or drinking for 30 minutes afterward. 

• Getting Regular Checkups and Cleanings

• • It’s recommended that you get your teeth cleaned every six months. Cleaning treatments help to clean out the places that are hard to get to, even if you think you’re getting everything! 
  • Examining teeth for cavities and tooth deterioration
    • In order to ensure a healthy and natural smile, the dentists at Bridge Creek Dental will work with you to create a thorough plan, whether you need a filling or something more serious like a crown, bridge, or implant.
  • Examining the gums for damage
    • Gum disease, also referred to as periodontal disease, is a significant condition that requires attention. Specialists at Bridge Creek Dentistry are aware of what to look for and what to do in the event that a positive diagnosis is made. This is important since treating gum disease becomes more difficult and unpleasant if the early warning symptoms are missed.

Once the Basics Are In Place

Once you have developed an oral hygiene routine that includes brushing, flossing, fluoride, and getting regular check-ups, you can take the next step and check your lifestyle habits. Believe it or not, our diet plays a significant part in our dental health. Some foods that negatively impact the health of our teeth are 

• All sugars
  • Yes, sugar is the main cause of tooth decay. But, don’t let that scare you away from sugars completely! After all, sugar comes in many forms, including fruit. When worrying about sugar and dental health, pay attention to highly processed foods and remember that the higher up sugar is on the ingredients list, the higher the amounts of it are in the product. 
• Acidic Foods
  • Acidic foods can cause dental erosion, which is the gradual dissolving of tooth enamel. Pro tip: the lower the Ph value of a food, the more acidic it is. So if you are worried about dental erosion or your dentist has specifically told you to watch out for this, there are many resources out there that can help you determine the Ph levels of specific foods. 
• Fizzy drinks
  • Fizzy drinks, such as soda, are a double whammy to teeth health because most of them include high levels of both sugar and acid. Water and milk are the best drink choices for teeth health, however, you can still enjoy other beverages in moderation. A good rule of thumb is to have other drinks during mealtimes and not in between meals. When you drink soda with other food, the other food can act as a protectant. But when you drink it in between meals, it sits on your teeth more directly and for longer. 

Staying on top of your oral care is a direct way to feel good about your smile. To get started, work on implementing a basic oral hygiene routine including brushing twice a day, flossing, using fluoride treatments, and stopping by the dentist every once in a while! Additionally, you can take a look at your lifestyle and diet choices to see where you may be able to alter your choices to better support teeth health and prevent tooth decay. Spread joy with your smile today and make an appointment at Bridge Creek Dental to make sure your teeth are in tip-top condition.