3 Easy Steps for a Beautiful (and Healthy) Smile!

A beautiful smile is not always a healthy smile, but how can you achieve both? Seeing your dentist regularly is a start, however your best defense against oral health issues is what you do at home. Dental hygiene not only ensures that your smile’s appearance remains attractive, but it prevents problems like cavities, infection, and more risks that can sometimes even have an impact on your overall health. Thankfully, there are some easy steps you can take to keep your smile in tip-top shape.

A Thorough Dental Hygiene Routine

A healthy set of teeth and gums starts with a good daily dental routine. Be sure to brush your teeth twice a day (in the morning and at night) for two minutes each session. Clean every side of each tooth, paying special attention to where your teeth meet your gums to remove plaque. You should also floss once a day to clean away lingering food debris that gets caught in between your teeth. As an added third step, you can use a nonalcoholic mouthwash to clean hard to reach areas of your smile. Alcohol dries out the mouth, which is why you should choose a rinse without this ingredient.

The Right Eating Habits

Oral healthcare extends into the items you eat in addition to how you clean your teeth. By minimizing sugary foods and drinks, you can automatically decrease your risk of dental problems like decay. Watch out for especially hard or sticky candies because these items stay in contact with your teeth for longer periods of time, making it more likely for cavities to occur. Plus, sugary beverages coat the teeth, which is why they should also be avoided. When sugars interact with bacteria in your mouth, they create acids that eat away at your enamel.

Drink More Water

Instead of sugary sodas or juices, choose water! H2O is not only amazing for your body, but it’s also great for your dental hygiene. Water helps wash away plaque and food that are in your mouth to prevent infection and cavities. Additionally, it helps stimulate your saliva flow, which cleans your mouth throughout the day. Lastly, possibly the most significant advantage of drinking water is fluoride. Most tap water contains fluoride, which is a naturally occurring mineral that strengthens your teeth, protecting them from cavities. In fact, fluoride can remineralize your smile, repairing your enamel in the very early stages of decay!

It’s as easy as that. Remember these simple yet amazingly effective tips to keep your mouth healthy and radiant!

About the Practice

At Dolfield Dental, Dr. Jacob Milner and Dr. R. Mark Horner work together to provide their patients with high-quality dental care. They understand the importance of preventive dentistry, which is why they want their patients to know some straightforward ways to stay healthy at home. For any questions, they can be reached through their website or by phone at (410) 902-4110.