Dental Tips To Keep Teeth Healthy

Summertime is a busy season for most families, and consequently, many forget to take care of their teeth and oral hygiene. Even if you’re traveling or on vacation, there are certain dental tips that you should follow to keep your teeth healthy and strong. Some recommendations include replacing your toothbrush every three months, cutting down on sugar, brushing your teeth daily and visiting the dentist regularly. These tips are some of many that will protect your teeth from decay and keep them healthy for years to come. Learn about other dental tips that will maintain your oral health with this guide!

Common Dental Conditions

When it comes to taking care of your teeth, you can never be too careful. While teeth are the hardest substances in the body, they can be damaged by the constant assault of plaque and decay. Each day, plaque forms on top of our teeth from the foods and drinks we consume, and if it isn’t brushed off, the bacteria within it creates acid that destroys tooth enamel. This leads to tooth decay and cavities, which must be treated by a dentist. Gum disease is a more serious form of tooth decay that occurs whenever plaque builds up along the gum line, causing inflammation, bleeding and tenderness. At this point, you have gingivitis, but it can worsen until you develop periodontitis, which damages bone, teeth and the tissues that support your teeth. Patients with periodontitis usually have to have their damaged teeth extracted, which affects the way they eat, chew and speak. Oral cancer is another dental condition that some patients experience, and although it can develop in anyone, those who smoke or use tobacco are more at risk for it than others. Nearly all of these conditions are avoidable if you commit to a regular oral hygiene regimen and watch what you eat so that your teeth can stay decay-free.

Taking Care of Your Teeth

The foods we eat are one of the biggest contributors to tooth decay, especially sugary candies, drinks and baked goods. Tooth decay develops from the sugar found in the foods we eat, creating the bacteria and acid that eats away at our teeth. Eating a balanced diet full of fruits and veggies, with plenty of Vitamin C, Vitamin D and calcium, will strengthen teeth and prevent excess sugar from building up on them. Brushing and flossing your teeth is the most important thing that you can do each day to remove food particles from your teeth and brush away the plaque that builds up from the foods we eat, even the healthy foods. When brushing, make sure that you’re scrubbing your tongue, as well, to remove bacteria and avoid bad breath. You should be scrubbing the inside of your cheeks, too, which can be done with a toothbrush or tongue cleaner. Make sure that the toothpaste that you are using contains fluoride, which strengthens teeth and prevents cavities. Kids and adults alike should be consuming fluoride each day to keep their teeth healthy. Most community water sources have fluoride added to them, but you can also buy fluoride treatments or fluoridated mouthwash to get more in your diet. Bacteria can also grow on your toothbrush, so make sure to replace yours with a new one every three to four months or whenever you notice frayed bristles. Microorganisms grow on toothbrushes in moist environments, so leave your toothbrush out in a standing position so that it can dry off each day. Lastly, schedule regular dental checkups so that your dentist can monitor tooth movement, perform a thorough cleaning and give you tips on how to manage your oral health. If you follow these tips, you will be able to avoid most dental complications and protect your teeth for years to come.

Importance of Regular Dental Checkups

Even if your teeth seem healthy and you have no recognizable dental issues, it is still important that you have regular dental checkups every six months. If you do have tooth decay or gum disease, your dentist may recommend that you have more frequent visits, depending on your needs. A dental checkup typically involves a thorough examination of your mouth and deep cleaning of your teeth with a metal probe and mirror to remove built up plaque. The examination allows the dentist to discover any changes in your health that you can’t see, such as decay around the teeth and gums in the back of your mouth. Many times, digital X-rays will be used to see what is below the mouth’s surface and look at your roots below the gums and jaw bone. The handheld X-ray devices that are so common now use 90% less radiation than conventional X-rays do, so there is no need to worry about your safety during these exams. Your dentist will also check how your teeth come together to diagnose any bite issues that will need to be fixed. Your neck, lymph glands and soft tissues of your mouth will also be examined as a precaution for signs of infection or cancer.

Get A Beautiful Smile With Our Help!

If you are due for a dental checkup or want more tips on how to keep your teeth healthy, call Stonebrook Family Dental at (303) 872-7907 to schedule a consultation. Our team is dedicated to your oral health needs and is available for any questions that you may have. Call today to start your journey to a healthier mouth!