4 Ways to Maintain a Healthy Smile
A great, clean smile is often the first thing people see when they meet you. However, that’s not the only reason why you should keep a healthy set of teeth. Issues such as sore gums, sensitive teeth and many more can arise from not maintaining a healthy smile. Although a beautiful and healthy smile cannot be achieved overnight, there is still time to work on it. Here are the top four ways you can begin improving that smile of yours.
Daily Routine
When it comes to achieving a healthy smile, it’s all about consistency. Therefore, your daily routine must be set up in a way that allows you to brush your teeth seamlessly. This means having all the tools set in place and ready to go. It is often the thought of setting up everything that discourages people and causes them to begin skipping days.
In addition, a healthy smile takes time. So if you’re not seeing results within a few days, keep at it. You’ll see an improvement eventually.
It’s also important to ensure you’re eating foods that are beneficial for your oral health. Foods that are high in calcium like milk and broccoli in particular will help strengthen your teeth.
Don’t Forget to Floss
You’ve heard it time and time again from your mother, dentists, teachers and everyone in between—you need to floss. But for most people, flossing is not a part of their daily routine. Flossing is a great way to get those bits of pieces of food that toothbrushes are simply too big to get.
Some people are concerned about the bleeding that can sometimes occur when flossing. Oftentimes, they think they’re doing it wrong, but in fact, according to the American Academy of Periodontology, it’s sometimes just a sign of a disease called gingivitis. After a few days of flossing, you will begin to see the amount of bleeding subside to only a small amount.
Gum Health
According to ST Dental, it’s recommended that you check your gums regularly for signs of disease, since 50 percent of Americans over the age of 30 suffer from periodontal disease. Periodontal disease essentially attacks your gums through the process of gingivitis or gum disease. It makes its way into the ligaments that anchor hold your teeth, thus making them weak and susceptible to falling out. The reason why it affects so many Americas is that it’s often started through stress. Those who are stressed tend to smoke more, eat an unhealthy diet and neglect their teeth altogether.
See Your Hygienist Twice
Although people can do a lot on their own to protect their teeth, there is nothing better than actually visiting your local hygienist. They are equipped with the latest tools and technology to ensure that not only are your teeth bright and white, but that they are also healthy. If you can afford to visit your dentist’s office, it is highly recommended that you visit at least once every six months.
Keeping a great-looking and healthy smile is often the priority for many, and rightfully so. Having healthy teeth not only makes you feel better about your smile, but it also keeps you healthy.
If you want more personalized advice on how to improve or maintain your health, sign up for a nutrition counseling session!