Essential Daily Care Practices for Your Teeth

Maintaining your health and wellness is a crucial part of living a long and enjoyable life. This includes taking good care of your teeth on a daily basis. While you should visit your dentist at least twice a year for a regular checkup and cleaning, they alone cannot account for your teeth health. Thus, the rest of the year it is up to you to take the best care of your teeth possible! Keep reading for some advice from Dr. Douglas J. Elliott at Elliott Orthodontics on how to keep your pearly whites shining bright!

Here are some simple things you should be doing daily to ensure your teeth remain healthy:

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day – You should brush your teeth every morning and every evening at least. However, if you want to keep your breath fresh, a quick brush after lunch never hurts! In addition, make sure you are using a toothpaste with fluoride. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by slowing the breakdown of enamel and increasing the rate of the remineralization process.
   
   
2. Floss between your teeth every day – Don’t forget to floss! Flossing can also help lessen your chances of heart disease. Additionally, both brushing and flossing help to keep plaque formation at bay. Plaque is a sticky substance that forms on your teeth and can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. 
   
   
3. Cut down on sugary food and drinks – High sugar foods are not good for your teeth!
   
   
4. Don’t smoke or chew tobacco.
   
   
5. If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
   
   

Taking care of your teeth and gums is especially important if you: have diabetes or cancer, are an older adult, and if you’re pregnant. However, regardless of medical conditions, everyone should take care of their teeth seriously. Let us help you take great care of your teeth! Please don’t hesitate to contact our office if you have any questions about oral health or how to take care of your teeth.