Your smile is so many things: a part of your personality, a primary component in your physical appearance, and one of your first greetings to new folks you meet. With all of those important roles to play, there’s a lot riding on your smile. Keeping your teeth looking their best is important not only for your physical health but for your self-confidence and well-being.
Your dentist plays an important role–regular visits to the dentist for exams and cleanings are a critical step in keeping your teeth looking their best. Your dentist can help keep your smile healthy by providing not only in-office cleanings but also by detecting problems before they become serious and treating them before they get out of hand. But what can you do to keep your teeth looking their best between visits?
As it turns out, there are a number of things you can do to keep your teeth bright, shiny, and healthy at home. Most of them are easy things you can incorporate into your routine that go a long way towards protecting your smile and your overall dental health:
- First things first: an effective brushing and flossing routine is the first and best thing you can do for your smile. By brushing and flossing regularly, you’ll preserve and promote the health of your teeth and gums between dentist visits. You can ask your dentist or dental hygienist to show you the best ways for you to brush and floss your teeth to meet your individual needs, but a regular routine of keeping your teeth clean is a must.
- Along with brushing and flossing, eating a healthy diet is one of the best things you can do for both your smile and your overall health. By ensuring that your meals are rich in fresh vegetables and lean proteins, you’ll go a long way towards keeping your smile–and your body as a whole–healthy and happy between visits to the dentist.
- Speaking of dietary habits, exercising caution around acidic foods is also important in keeping your teeth healthy. The acids in foods like citrus fruit, juices, sodas, and some alcoholic beverages can weaken the protective enamel layer of the teeth and leave them susceptible to damage, infection, and decay. So if you want to avoid cavities, limit your consumption of acidic foods and beverages and rinse your mouth with fresh water after you do enjoy them.
- Finally, avoiding tobacco and alcohol use is one of the best things you can do to your teeth. While they affect your teeth and gums in different ways, both tobacco and alcohol can lead to discoloration, bad breath, gum disease, tooth decay, and even tooth loss. It’s best to avoid them altogether and to limit your consumption if you do insist on using them.
This may sound like a lot, but in reality, most of these tips are easy to implement in your daily routine and provide an effective approach to keeping your mouth healthy and your teeth looking their best between visits to your dentist. Combined with regular dental exams and cleanings, you’ll be on the road to the best possible oral health and the brightest possible smile.
At Claremont Dental Arts, we’re dedicated to ensuring that you and your smile are the best that you can be. As your bridge to better health, we’re here to address the specific needs and goals you have for your oral health. So while there are things you can do at home, we’re here to help you advance your goals. Whether it’s an exam and cleaning, teeth whitening, or a more advanced cosmetic procedure, we’ll discuss your options with you and find the right path forward. Get in touch today, and let’s get started!
