Your oral health should always be a priority. It’s important to take care of not only your teeth but also your tongue and your entire mouth in general. However, you don’t need to go through a mountain of steps to keep your teeth healthy. With just a few simple oral health tips, you can easily bring your teeth from unhealthy to healthy.

Dr. Taj Haynes, your #1 dentist in Charlotte, NC, has compiled a list of oral health tips to help you attain and maintain healthy teeth. Let’s go over these tips and how you can incorporate them into your life!

Brush Regularly and Properly

The importance of regular brushing cannot be overemphasized. We all know the ideal recommendation for brushing is two times daily, once in the morning and once at night. However, many people only seem to care about brushing once daily and tend to skip brushing at night.

Brushing at night is just as important as brushing during the day. This is because it helps get rid of plaque and germs that have accumulated throughout the day. Brushing in the morning and at night is the foundation of maintaining healthy teeth.

Aside from brushing regularly, you also need to brush your teeth correctly. This means gently moving the toothbrush back and forth in short strokes while you brush the outer and inner surfaces of your teeth. You should also brush with up and down strokes to clean the side surfaces of the molars and premolars. You should also remember to clean your tongue while brushing.

Flossing is as Important as Brushing for Healthy Teeth

Aside from brushing, you also need to do several other things if you want to maintain healthy teeth. Flossing does a great job of removing food particles from in between the teeth. It also stimulates the gums, lowers inflammation, and reduces plaque.

Ideally, you should floss at least once a day before brushing your teeth. Regular flossing will help you maintain healthy teeth and improve your overall oral health.

Use Fluoride to Improve Your Oral Health

Fluoride is an essential ingredient in many toothpastes and mouthwashes. This is because it strengthens your tooth enamel, thus lowering your chances of developing a tooth cavity. Preventing tooth decay and cavities from developing in the first place is vital for maintaining good oral health and healthy teeth. 

Not all toothpastes or mouthwashes contain fluoride, so it’s important to pay attention to the ingredients and choose the right oral health care products. Studies show that flossing and brushing do not prevent cavities if they do not include fluoride. 

Limit Your Intake of Sugar, Starch, and Acidic Food

If you want to maintain healthy teeth, you have to stay away from sugary foods as much as possible. When you eat sugary foods, the sugar converts to acid in the mouth. This acid can erode the enamel and cause cavities. Reducing sugary, acidic foods and certain fruits in your diet can help you minimize your chances of developing tooth cavities.

Drink More Water

Water does more than aid digestion; it also helps us maintain our oral health. If food is trapped for too long against your teeth or gums, it has more time to weaken tooth enamel. That’s why you should aim to drink water after every meal. Immediately drinking water after a meal helps flush away acidic, sugary, or sticky foods from your teeth and gums, thus keeping them clean and healthy.

Eat Fruits and Vegetables

Crunchy fruits and vegetables are a great choice for your overall health and do wonders for helping you maintain healthy teeth. Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber, which encourages more saliva production inside your mouth and keeps your teeth clean.

Crunchy fruits and vegetables also exercise your jaws and teeth, thus keeping them healthy. The more you chew, the more you stimulate blood flow to your gums and teeth.

Refrain From Smoking and Drinking Alcohol to Prevent Damage to Healthy Teeth

Smoking and drinking alcohol can damage and discolor your teeth over time. While most people think smoking just stains teeth, it actually causes quite a bit of damage to your enamel. Aside from the dangerous effect smoking has on your overall health, it also causes gum damage, oral diseases, yellowing of the tongue, and bad breath.

It’s also just as important to limit the number of alcoholic drinks you have because they can wear down on tooth enamel. Avoiding alcohol and smoking as much as possible keeps your oral health in the best condition, which makes it easier to maintain your dental health and overall health.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly for a Dental Checkup in Charlotte and Concord, NC

While having a good flossing and brushing routine is crucial, there is one more major step you need to take to maintain healthy teeth and improve your oral health: going to the dentist. Without going to the dentist regularly, you leave yourself open to developing severe oral diseases or dental issues that can become costly down the road. Only a dentist can examine the inside of your mouth with the right tools and find signs of tooth decay or other dental issues.

It’s vital to see your dentist regularly and schedule yourself for dental checkups. Checkups with your dentist will help you maintain or improve your overall oral health, give you healthy teeth and gums, and brighten your smile.

Modern Family Dental Care offers a variety of dental services to help you spruce up your oral health, such as teeth cleanings, gum disease treatments, and dental sealants. Our dental checkups in Charlotte, NC and Concord, NC are extremely thorough and designed for people who need to improve their oral health.

You can contact our dental team today to schedule a visit for a quality dental service. Book an appointment now!