Tooth damage can have a lasting impact, both in terms of pain and your aesthetic. Often, patients can exhibit small symptoms, such as bleeding gums and shooting pain, which will later lead to more drastic issues such as tooth loss or receding gums. Here we have five ways to improve your oral health so that you can reduce your chances of serious dental problems later in life.
1. Brush and Floss At Least Twice A Day
Whilst this might seem basic, many choose to only brush once a day, or not to floss their teeth, which can lead to plaque build-up in between teeth and in hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. Consider investing in a quality electric toothbrush to ensure that you thoroughly clean your teeth every day and keep your entire mouth free from bacteria.
2. Look To Your Diet
This is another tip that may seem obvious, but your diet can have a strong impact on your oral health, so look into the ways in which you can reduce your sugar intake and improve your oral health in general. Sugar can lead to the production of corrosive acids that damage tooth enamel, leading to tooth discoloration and erosion. Other factors to consider when adjusting your diet to help improve your oral health include eating foods that will not get caught in your teeth, reducing the amount of hard or chewy foods you eat and cutting down on alcohol, which dries out the mouth and can lead to a variety of dental issues.
3. Visit Your Dentist Regularly
A visit to the dentist or hygienist isn’t just for when your teeth hurt or are particularly dirty: you should be booking an appointment at least once every six months to make sure your teeth are healthy. This proactive approach will ensure that any small problems with your teeth are caught early, as well as allowing your dentist to recommend any changes in your dental cleaning strategy that could benefit your oral health in the long run.
4. If You Need Treatment or Implants, Select A Quality Provider
Should your dentist discover any problems with your teeth, make sure that you choose a professional, experienced treatment or implant provider. Do your research and explore the providers who offer the best solutions so that you can find the implants or treatments that will fix your specific problem. Sites such as stomadentlab.com and ada.org offer an overview of the implant options and service professionals out there, so that you can make an informed choice.
5. Drink More Water
Choosing water over soft drinks is a great way to cut down on sugar and drinking tap water can also help you to increase your consumption of fluoride. The American Dental Association states that including fluoride in the water supply is a natural way to improve oral health and reduce the population’s chances of tooth decay. As such, drinking more water is an easy, cheap and effective way to improve the long-term health of your teeth.