How to Start and End the Year with Good Oral Health

If you want healthy teeth throughout your life then you need to look after them. This isn’t something that you can do occasionally and forget about the rest of the time. Doing this will only result in oral health problems. So if you want to look after your teeth, here are some expert tips that will help.

1. Brush Twice a Day

You probably already know that you need to brush your teeth at least twice a day, but lots of people don’t follow this advice. In particular, people forget to brush their teeth at night, which means that the plaque from the day has 8 hours to build up while you sleep. This can result in cavities and gum disease.

2. Brush Thoroughly

When you brush your teeth, make sure you brush your tongue and your gums at the same time. This helps to remove all the plaque and improve bad breath. Also, make sure that you brush for at least 2 minutes. Use a gentle, circular motion to avoid sawing at your teeth, which can damage the enamel and lead to long term damage.

3. Make Sure You Floss

Flossing is just as important as brushing because it removes particles of food from between your teeth. Otherwise, these particles start to decay and the bacteria will eat away at your teeth and cause cavities between them. And don’t let any flossing difficulties stop you. For some people, flossing can be awkward and even uncomfortable. But the more you do it, the easier it will become until it’s just a regular part of your morning routine.
5. Improve Your Diet

Your diet is pivotal to the health of your teeth. If you eat lots of sugary or acidic foods, it will convert into acid that eats away at the enamel of your teeth. And the end result will be more cavities, tooth pain and an emergency trip to a dentist. Foods like raw, crunchy vegetables contain lots of water and fibre, which helps to flush out your mouth and also exercises the jaw. This helps to ensure the health of your entire mouth. And it’s a lot better for your waistline as well.

6. Drink Lots of Water

Water hydrates your mouth and encourages saliva production, which protects your teeth from decay. It also helps to clean your mouth because it passes through all the little gaps where food particles can get lodged, sweeping them clean. This is particularly important if you eat a lot of sugary or sticky foods. Drinking water afterwards will help to clean your teeth and prevent damage.

7. Have Regular Check-ups

Having regular check-ups is absolutely essential for your oral health. No matter how well you look after your teeth, you can’t care for them as well as your dentist can. Your dentist can detect and treat any dental problems early, before they cause damage and reduce the overall health of your mouth and teeth. They can also remove built up plaque, which is essential if you want to avoid cavities and other problems in the long term.