Five Tips on Having Healthy Oral Health: Your Guide to a Lasting Smile
Good oral hygiene is about more than just a pretty smile. There is a critical connection between oral health and overall health, and scientific studies have shown time and again that good oral health can bring about good overall health, and vice versa.
Problems that originate in the mouth don’t tend to stay there. While healthy oral hygiene habits play a vital role in preventing serious issues, like gum disease and tooth decay, it can also help prevent more issues, like heart disease and even diabetes.
Following a simple oral hygiene routine is the key to achieving optimal oral health. Below, we will provide five oral health tips for the whole family, offering actionable advice on how to improve oral health and take control of your dental care.
Whether you’re looking for the best oral hygiene routine, how to prevent gum disease, or how often to floss, Absolute Dental has the answers.
Brushing your teeth twice daily, after breakfast and just before bed, if possible, is the foundation of any good oral hygiene routine.
Brushing at least twice a day with a soft bristled toothbrush helps remove plaque and food particles, which, if left untreated, can lead to oral health problems and cavities. Once plaque advances to tartar, it can no longer be removed at home, so brushing every day to combat its formation is crucial.
Proper Technique To Brush Your Teeth
Always use a fluoride toothpaste endorsed by the American Dental Association, and a gentle, circular motion with the toothbrush. Both manual and electric toothbrushes can be effective. Use a soft bristle brush.
Brush all surfaces of the teeth, as well as the tongue, to remove oral bacteria and ensure fresher breath.
The recommended time to brush your teeth is two-minutes. Some people find it helpful to set a timer and some electric toothbrushes come with a built-in timer.
Simply brushing is not enough. The correct technique is crucial.
Tip 2: Don’t Skip Flossing
Dental floss is essential for removing dental plaque and food particles from between the teeth and along the gum line that a toothbrush can’t reach
Neglecting to floss can lead to plaque buildup, gum disease and gingivitis, and tooth decay between the teeth. You should floss every evening before bed.
Proper Technique to Floss
First, wrap the floss around your thumb and index finger or both index fingers, and gently guide it between your teeth.
Move it in and out at least once between each tooth, staring at the back and working your way around to the other side of the mouth, first on the top, then the bottom set of teeth.
As an alternative to traditional flossing for those who find it difficult, a water flosser can be a good option, but speak to your dentist first.
Consistent flossing is key to keeping your gums healthy, preventing bleeding gums, and preventing gum disease.
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Tip 3: Use Fluoride and Mouthwash
Using fluoridated toothpastes or antibacterial mouthwash for oral health can be a great strategy to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
However, mouthwash and other methods of teeth cleaning should always be done in addition to other oral care techniques and never replace them. For example, you should never replace flossing with mouthwash.
Benefits of Fluoride
Fluoride toothpaste helps strengthen tooth enamel, making the teeth more resistant to decay.
The American Dental Association recommends using fluoride toothpaste for this reason, and your dentist can also provide fluoride treatments to your teeth, in some instances.
Benefits of Antibacterial Mouthwash
Antibacterial mouthwash helps kill bacteria that cause bad breath and gum disease, and can reach areas of the mouth that are hard to brush and floss.
Remember, a mouthwash routine should complement, not replace, daily brushing and flossing. Mouthwash can also help with dry mouth and is a great part of a complete oral care routine.
Your diet is also linked to good overall health. Sugary drinks and sugary foods especially can contribute to oral health problems because sugar feeds the oral bacteria that produce acids that cause cavities and tooth decay.
For best oral health results, eat whole foods that lack added sugar. Try to avoid candies, cakes, processed foods, and switch from drinking sugary soda to water. You can do your teeth a world of good by simply eliminating soft drinks and switching to sparkling water.
Foods and Drinks To Avoid for Better Oral Health
Be sure to limit sugary and acidic foods and drinks.
Foods and Drinks To Consume for Healthy Teeth and Gums
Crunchy and crisp foods can actually help your teeth by cleaning and strengthening them. Try foods like apples, celery and carrots.
Foods rich with calcium can be an excellent supplement as well to keep bones, including teeth, healthy into old age.
Drinking plenty of water (at least four liters a day for men and three for women) is not just good for your overall health, it’s good for the health of your teeth as well.
We Accept Most Dental Insurance
Absolute Dental is a preferred provider for most insurances, unions, and hotels that include: Aetna, Ameritas, Boon-Chapman, Caesars Palace, Cigna, Delta Dental, Diversified, Geha, Guardian, Harrah’s, HealthSCOPE Benefits, Health Plan of Nevada (HPN), Humana, Liberty, Met-Life, MGM-MIRAGE, Premier Access, The Standard, Station Casinos, Teachers Health Trust, United Concordia, United Healthcare, Venetian, and The Zenith. We also accept Medicaid.
If you do not see your dental insurance listed here, just give us a call to confirm!
Regular dental visits are a crucial part of overall health. A dental professional can perform a professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar buildup that you can’t get rid of at home. This is essential — even with perfect brushing and flossing habits, you can’t remove all plaque and tartar that causes cavities and gum disease.
At an appointment, your dentist can also perform an exam to check for early signs of tooth decay, gum disease, or other oral health problems, including oral cancer.
How Often Should You Visit Your Dentist?
Dental check-up frequency is generally twice a year (every six months) for check-ups and cleanings.
Because of your unique situation, your dentist may tell you to come more often or occasionally sometimes less. You should follow their advice.
Early detection of issues at dental appointments is key to preventing more serious issues down the line, and if you have tooth pain or feel you have loose teeth, we can help.
Absolute Dental: Committed to Oral Health in Las Vegas and Nevada
Oral health is an essential part of overall health and your general wellbeing. By following the steps above, you can achieve not only the ideal smile, but health that will last a lifetime.
If you’re looking for expert and friendly dental care for the whole family, call Absolute Dental. With a little daily effort and check-ins with us every six months, your smile will serve you for years to come.
In addition to brushing twice a day and flossing in the evening, you should see a dental hygienist twice a year for cleanings or as directed by your doctor.
Signs of poor dental hygiene include bad breath, gums that bleed when eating or brushing, plaque buildup, rotten teeth, discolored teeth, and more. If you’re experiencing any of these on a regular basis, see a dentist right away.
Yes, absolutely. Poor oral health has been linked to systemic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and infection. This happens because inflammation and infection from the teeth and gums can enter the bloodstream, causing issues elsewhere in the body.
In many cases, yes. The earliest stage, gingivitis, can even often be reversed at home with proper and meticulous care and frequent screenings and professional cleanings.
Diet is extremely connected to oral health. Sugary foods especially can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums. You should try to eliminate sugary sodas and soft drinks from your diet and switch to water.
