A smile is one of the first things we notice when we meet a new person and vice versa. Smiles reflect a person’s state of mind, whether they are confident, happy, friendly, etc. This simple act can also have an impact on your life in every way possible. There have been studies to show that those who smile more actually live longer lives, along with healthier hearts, happier mindsets, stronger immune systems, and the big factor – less stress!
A smile is also contagious and can really help to brighten someone’s day. When you smile your feel-good chemicals are released, boosting your mood and lowering your stress levels. People with great oral health are likely to smile a whole lot more than someone with oral imperfections.
You could really be missing out if you try to hide your smile due to oral problems. Whether you have yellowing teeth, bad breath, tartar, receding gums, plaque build-up, etc., all these things could easily prevent you from making the most of your smile. Of course, chipped or fractured teeth, crooked teeth and other similar problems can also be a hinderance.
Proper oral hygiene is not always an easy task. Things like vacations or all the holidays that encourage us to eat candy and sweets, cause us to over-indulge and just generally neglect our oral health. Unfortunately, we don’t often think about the impact these sugary delights can have to our oral health, which makes seeing your dentist regularly an absolute necessity.
Let’s look at some of the best ways to keep your smile in top condition and your confidence levels high.
Tip #1 – Always Brush
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is vital to your oral health. Plaque can build-up from eating and drinking and daily life in general. Brushing your teeth and flossing will help remove it, reducing the risk of plaque caused issues. However, if left on your teeth for too long, it hardens and becomes tartar, which will require the help of a dentist to completely remove.
Use a soft-bristled brush and brush at the right angles to reach every spot. Don’t press too hard or you could damage your gums and tooth enamel but use enough pressure that your teeth get cleaned. Your dental provider can help you better understand the best way to brush if you’re not feeling confident in your ability.
Something we recommend is an electronic toothbrush. These can be very helpful in correctly brushing and it can even motivate you to brush. Nowadays you can find smart toothbrushes that have an app with helpful reminders, advice and oral health tracking features. Whatever works for you is fine, just never forget to brush!
Tip #2 – Daily Flossing
Flossing should be done daily and not just when you have something stuck between your teeth. Brushing is good, but it can’t clean between your teeth like floss does. If these food particles are left they will become tartar and could eventually lead to gum and bone disease.
To correctly floss, carefully slide the floss between your teeth, gently cleaning the gumline. If you don’t floss regularly, bleeding from the gums may occur. This will improve over time when you up your oral hygiene game. If you continue to bleed after several weeks of flossing, visit your dentist.
Tip #3 – Drink Plenty of Water
Water does wonders for our bodies, and the same goes for our oral health. Water is a great way to keep your mouth rinsed and remineralize your teeth, making them stronger. There are so many drinks available today that have a lot of added sugar, and the same goes for food. Drinking plenty of water will help you keep food particles out of your mouth while also filling you up faster, helping you to lessen the urge for junk food.
Tip #4 – Schedule Regular Checkups
Regular dental visits are critical to improving and maintaining a healthy smile. What you do at home to care for your oral hygiene is important but visiting your oral hygienist is still absolutely necessary. Regular cleanings will ensure that any plaque you missed doesn’t have time to build up; mainly in the areas you can’t easily get to when brushing your teeth.
In addition, your oral hygienist will also be able to help you enhance your smile in other ways if necessary. Teeth whitening, for instance, can really brighten your smile. It’s recommended that you have your dentist do this and try to avoid home-whitening kits as some can damage your teeth.
Maybe you want a straighter smile. Your dentist can help with that too. Regardless of how you’re looking to enhance your smile and make it the best it can be, professional dentistry is always the best option.
Tip #5 – Maintain Your Health
In addition to your oral health, taking care of your body is always important for good oral health. Many health conditions can impact your oral health including obesity, high blood pressure and even bruxism. Paying more attention to what you put in your mouth can help you avoid eating and drinking the wrong things, for both your body and your oral health.
Tip #6 – Avoid Teeth-Staining Drink & Food
Certain drinks and foods can stain your teeth over time so it’s best to avoid these at all costs if possible. Tea, coffee, soda and red wine are culprits for staining teeth. Stained teeth are subject to tooth decay as well. You can still enjoy some of these things, but we recommend rinsing and gargling with water right after and then waiting about 30 minutes before brushing your teeth. If you brush immediately after, you risk rubbing the acids deeper into your teeth and stripping away your tooth enamel. Rinsing and then waiting to brush is best.
Smoking is also a means for a less than perfect smile. It can stain your teeth but also cause receding of your gums and leave behind dark spaces. Your saliva is also affected by smoking as the chemicals in the tobacco reduce your saliva flow. Less saliva flow means more chance of bacteria hanging around in your mouth, easily sticking to your gums and teeth.
Tip #7 – DIY Is Not Always the Best Option
Many people enjoy trying to do things on their own before seeking the help of a professional. This goes for just about anything, including oral health and hygiene. You have likely noticed a wide variety of teeth whitening kits, whether in the drug store, on social media ads or from a friend that just tried a product at home.
Yes, there are some of these kits that work quite well, however, there are also many that can cause more harm than good. Some have even stained the teeth further or permanently damaged their tooth enamel and gums. It’s best to schedule a whitening with your oral hygienist, or if you’re looking to maintain a white smile, talk to your dentist about the product you’re considering using. They can help you determine if anything in it is harmful, or if it’s the right product for your needs.
Achieving and maintaining a beautiful smile is a great goal and we hope that the tips above will help you on this journey. If you need professional assistance, just phone your dentist!
