Tips to Maintaining a Healthy Smile

The trick to maintaining a healthy, white smile has to do with a lot more than just brushing your teeth two times a day. Your daily habits and diet also play a large role in the condition of your smile. Here are eight ways that you can maintain a sparkling, healthy smile at any age.

Avoid Dark Liquids

Dark liquids such as coffee, alcohol, tea, etc. can easily stain your teeth. Avoiding these drinks as much as possible will help to maintain those pearly whites.

Replace Your Toothbrush

It’s important to replace your toothbrush every 2-3 months or when your brush appears to be frayed because they tend to break down and become less effective at cleaning your teeth. Plus, switching out your brush can minimize the amount of germs that are passed on by keeping your toothbrush fresh.

Brush At Least Twice a Day

Brush your teeth twice a day, in the morning and at night, to get rid of any plaque and bacteria. However, if you have the opportunity, it is even better to brush after each meal to remove any leftover stains or particles.

Floss Daily

As one of the most overlooked and forgotten elements of maintaining healthy teeth, flossing is essential to keeping your teeth clean and plaque-free. Flossing regularly helps to remove trapped plaque and bacteria that your toothbrush can’t reach, reducing your susceptibility to tooth decay and gingivitis.

Reserve Your Teeth For Eating Only

It can be tempting to use your teeth as leverage to open bottles, chew hard items, etc. but it can be severely detrimental to your teeth’s health. Avoid chewing anything hard, such as ice cubes, or using your teeth on anything other than food to reduce any chipping or breaking.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Making regular visits to your local dentist is essential to maintaining a proper, healthy smile. Dentists can help you identify any issues, remove corrosive plaque and keep your teeth sparkling and strong.

Avoid Acidic, Sugary Drinks

Drinks that are high in acid and high sugar, such as fruit juices and soft drinks can soften your tooth material and weaken or dissolve the minerals in your tooth enamel, making them susceptible to cavities and decay.  Damage caused by acidic and sugary drinks is often irreversible and should be avoided as much as possible.

Eat Crisp, Fibrous Foods

Consuming foods such as apples, celery, carrots, etc. that are more crisp and firm when you bite into them help to act as a cleaning agent for your teeth. These foods are considered “detergent” foods which help to brush and clean your teeth. If you don’t have time to brush throughout the day, incorporate these foods at the end of your meals or in between meals to help keep your teeth clean. For personalized care and advice, visit our dentist in Orlando, FL, to learn more about maintaining a healthy smile.