Most people are aware that brushing and flossing their teeth at least twice a day is an essential part of their hygiene routines. However, keeping your smile healthy and disease-free requires more than just a few minutes out of every day. For instance, your eating habits and regular dental checkups and cleanings (or the lack thereof) greatly influence the state of your oral health. To help ensure that you’re making the most of your dental hygiene, explore a few tips for keeping your smile in optimal condition for life!
Clean Your Teeth EVERY Day
A lifetime of repetition can fool you into believing that not brushing and flossing your teeth for a day is no big deal. The truth, though, is that bacteria are natural inhabitants of your mouth, and they are constantly forming the sticky biofilm known as plaque. Skipping even one session can allow excessive plaque to build up on your teeth. After about 48 hours, it calcifies and becomes too tough for your toothbrush to handle, considerably increasing your risk of bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease.
Eat More Conscientiously
Frequent snacking is a significant risk to more than just your physical health. Certain oral bacteria consume nutrients from your food and metabolize substances that can diminish your oral health. Some germs produce foul-smelling sulfur compounds that can chronically taint your breath (halitosis), while others produce acids that erode your tooth enamel in preparation of tooth decay. The less often you eat, the less often you feed these detrimental bacterial processes.
Stay Hydrated by Drinking Water
When bacterial acid attacks, it depletes essential minerals from your teeth to weaken your enamel. The fluoride found in many cities’ drinking water strengthens your teeth by bonding to your tooth enamel—your body’s strongest and most mineralized substance. While bottled water doesn’t typically contain fluoride, it can help keep your mouth hydrated and your saliva flow consistent, which helps protects your smile from bacterial plaque and food debris.
A Healthy Smile Requires Regular Attention
Keeping your smile healthy and beautiful for life requires regular attention at home and at your dentist’s office. To schedule your next appointment, call Just Wright Dental in Corsicana, TX, today by calling (903) 225-2221. We also proudly welcome patients from Waxahachie, Mildred, Eureka, Ennis, Fairfield, Teague, Blooming Grove, Dawson, Hubbard, Hillsboro, Mexia, Groesbeck, Kerens, Malakoff, Rice, Centerville, Buffalo, and Athens.