Maintaining long-term oral health is essential to overall well-being. How to do this is technically quite simple, though sometimes it’s easier said than done: maintain a consistent oral hygiene routine and make a healthy diet and habits.
From proper brushing and flossing to making smart dietary choices, some simple steps can allow you to maintain the long-term health of your teeth, gums, and smile.
Today, we’re discussing seven straightforward but important steps anyone can take to boost their long-term oral health.
7 Steps to Healthy Teeth
Here are seven oral health and lifestyle tips to ensure a lifetime of strong oral health:
- Brush your teeth frequently. Brush at least twice daily using fluoride toothpaste, using smooth, circular motions, especially around the gums. Remember that brushing harder is not better!
- Floss daily. Flossing daily and, as with brushing, not too vigorously, helps to remove plaque and food particles from between teeth, fighting bad breath and the bacteria that cause plaque and tartar.
- Rinse with mouthwash. Regularly rinse with antibacterial mouthwash to reduce bacterial buildup.
- Be conscious of your diet. Limit consumption of sugary foods and drinks, which contribute to plaque and tartar buildup. Similarly, excessive consumption of acidic foods and drinks can erode tooth enamel.
- Visit the dentist regularly. Schedule at least one, ideally two, routine check-ups and cleanings to allow your dentist to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and gums and provide preemptive care to prevent more serious issues in the future.
- Protect your teeth. If you grind your teeth while sleeping or play contact sports, wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth from wear and tear and trauma.
- Avoid tobacco. Smoking and smokeless tobacco products increase the risk of gum disease and make it tougher to treat.
Of course, only a dentist or oral surgeon, after considering a patient’s oral and overall health, can definitively determine the best option.
Comprehensive Dental Care in Casuarina
If you’re looking for an experienced dentist in the Casuarina area to help you and your family develop strong long-term oral health practices, Dentists Dr Jean Francois Cohen and Dr Karen Marshall and the Casuarina Square Dental Care team are on hand to schedule an appointment.