The new year doesn’t give you the chance for a complete do-over, but it does offer the opportunity to start some new, healthy habits that will last for a lifetime. This includes keeping your smile bright and beautiful.
At Hometown Family Dental Centers, our expert dental professionals offer a wide range of dental services to help you stay on top of your oral health. Here, the team weighs in on seven habits you can adopt for a healthier smile in the new year.
You may have heard some of these tips before, but they’re worth repeating, as they’re key to keeping your smile healthy year-round.
Plaque is a sticky film that contains food debris and bacteria. When you eat, the bacteria convert the food into acids that can eat away at your tooth enamel, the hard coating that surrounds each tooth.
When the enamel wears away, it can lead to cavities and pockets of decay in the teeth. And, any plaque that remains on the teeth can harden into tartar (calculus), which can lead to gum inflammation and can only be removed by a dental professional.
The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes each time. This helps remove the food debris and the plaque.
If you’ve just had something acidic, though, wait about an hour before brushing, as the acids in the food can soften the enamel.
Your toothbrush is a handy tool, but it can’t reach between your teeth. Unfortunately, plaque can build up between teeth as easily as it does on the surfaces. That’s why flossing is so important.
You should floss at least once a day, scraping along each side of the gap to remove any debris or plaque before it hardens into tartar.
Saliva is a great way to wash away dental debris, but if you’re dehydrated, you can’t make enough of it to be helpful. That’s why you should drink plenty of water throughout the day, in addition to brushing and flossing.
Good nutrition is essential for all your body’s processes, including its ability to build bone tissue in your jaw, provide blood to nourish the teeth, and manufacture tooth components. Aim for a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Avoid foods with added fats and sugars, especially since these can erode your teeth.
You may also want to avoid or reduce your intake of foods that stain teeth, such as red wine, soy sauce, coffee, tea, tomato sauce, and dark berries. If you do consume these, make sure to rinse your mouth out afterward.
If you play sports, you may want to invest in a mouthguard. This custom-made plastic appliance fits over your teeth and protects them in the event of a collision with a ball or another player.
There are many ways to chip a tooth, such as using teeth to open bottles or bags, which is not advisable under any circumstances. Chips and cracks create openings in the enamel through which bacteria can migrate into the inner pulp, leading to decay or an infection.
Your dentist can fix chips and cracks either with dental bonding – essentially applying a dental putty to the area – or by covering the front surface with a veneer, a wafer-thin porcelain shell that binds to the tooth and protects it from further damage.
Your twice-yearly visits are more than just a time to catch up with the dentist. They can remove any built-up plaque or tartar, assess for signs of gum disease, and screen for oral cancer. They can also take an X-ray to see if you’ve developed any cavities that need to be filled.
Want more tips or want to schedule an evaluation? Call Hometown Family Dental Centers in Fayetteville, Raeford, or Vass, North Carolina, and we’ll be happy to accommodate you.
