Your oral health is as vital as your general health. If ignored, an oral health problem can result in a more severe health condition over time. For instance, an infection in the mouth starts small and then spreads to the rest of the body over time. It helps to pay attention to your oral health and ensure you practice habits that keep your teeth healthy and white. Thus, prioritize your oral health at all times. It will help prevent conditions that affect your mouth and manage and prevent health issues like diabetes and cancer. Paying attention to your oral health before any issues arise will help you maintain your general health. Here are easy tips that could significantly improve your oral health, keeping your teeth healthy and white. For more information and help with dental care, contact an experienced dentist.
Tips To Keep Your Teeth Healthy and White
Your teeth serve more purposes than chewing food. They give you a beautiful smile and look that keeps you feeling good about yourself. Your confidence, in part, is determined by how healthy and strong your teeth are. Thus, oral hygiene should be your priority. Sadly, your teeth change in brightness as you age. Their look and feel are affected by your lifestyle choices and dietary habits. If you are not careful, you can quickly end up with cracked, decayed, or discolored teeth. That will affect the normal functioning of your mouth and your confidence. Fortunately, there are several tips for keeping your teeth white and healthy. They include:
Dental Flossing
Dental flossing is a crucial oral hygiene habit. It dislodges food particles between your teeth, leaving those difficult-to-clean areas clean and healthy. When food particles are left between your teeth, they cause bacterial growth and plaque buildup on your teeth, resulting in tooth decay and more serious oral health conditions like periodontitis. Plaque is a dark and sticky buildup on the teeth' surface that results in cavities and gum disease.
Brushing your teeth daily does not guarantee the removal of food particles stuck between your teeth. That is why it is not an effective way to keep your teeth healthy and white, even when done at least twice a day. Flossing at least once a day ensures that all food particles left in your mouth are removed while brushing your teeth at least twice a day. Thus, flossing alone is not enough. It would be best to practice dental flossing alongside other good oral health habits.
Additionally, it would be best to practice dental flossing correctly to achieve the desired results and not damage your teeth. Improper flossing can leave you with damaged gums and teeth. Hold the floss correctly, and gently slide it up and down in between your teeth.
Knowing when to floss is also crucial in achieving the desired results. Some people floss after brushing their teeth. But, it is recommended that you floss first and then brush your teeth. Flossing aims at removing stuck food particles from in between your teeth. Brushing will remove those food particles from your mouth. When done correctly, the two habits will leave your entire mouth clean and healthy.
Brushing Correctly
Dental flossing and brushing teeth are the two most common oral hygiene habits you must practice religiously to keep your teeth white and your entire mouth healthy. Most people brush their teeth at least twice daily but still experience oral health issues. The question is, do you brush your teeth correctly?
Brushing twice every day since childhood does not mean you always do it correctly. You could benefit from a few tips to ensure brushing your teeth effectively daily.
The American Dental Association recommends holding the toothbrush at an angle of 45 degrees from the gums. Then gently move the brush back and forth across all the teeth on the upper and lower jaw. The most critical areas to pay attention to are the front and back of the ridge of every tooth. Do not forget to brush your tongue, too, as it carries layers of bacteria that could cause bad breath if ignored.
You must use the right brush to keep your teeth healthy and white. ADA recommends toothbrushes with soft bristles as they can gently clean and polish your teeth without damaging your gums and enamel. Choose brush size and shape that can easily fit your mouth. It will ensure that you reach all areas of your mouth with ease.
Also, replace your toothbrush at least every four months or sooner. A frayed toothbrush will not clean your teeth well.
Drinking Fluoridated Water
Water fluoridation is a fundamental process. It involves adding fluoride to the water supply to ensure that the water we consume has at least 0.7 milligrams per liter. That is the optimal level of fluoride needed to prevent tooth decay and other oral health issues. Fluoride is known to prevent tooth decay. It makes the human teeth more resistant to acid attacks from sugars in the mouth and plaque bacteria. It could also reverse early signs of tooth decay.
Dentists know the importance of drinking water with the required fluoride levels. Fortunately, most cities in the United States today have supplemented drinking water with fluoride to improve the dental health of their residents. It makes improving oral health easier for most people.
Tooth decay is one of the most common global dental health issues. It affects everyone, including children, youth, adults, and the old.
Tooth decay affects the normal functioning of your teeth, making it impossible for you to bite or chew. It also affects the look and feels of your teeth, impacting your self-esteem and confidence.
Tooth decay happens when bacteria in your mouth break down sugars in foods that remain in your mouth, producing damaging acids that dissolve the hard surface of your teeth. Fluoridated water is the most effective, straightforward, and cost-effective way to protect your teeth from decay.
Protecting Your Enamel From Wear
The enamel is the shiny white material that covers your teeth. It is the strongest bone in the entire body, made of 96% mineral, the highest percentage of any tissue in the body. That makes the enamel durable and resistant to damage. However, some habits can still damage the enamel if practiced consistently for a lengthy period. It leaves you with weak and completely damaged teeth that cannot function well. It would be best to protect the enamel by keeping your teeth healthy and white.
Consuming food with a high concentration of sugars and acids is one way through which you can damage your enamel. Another way is by brushing your teeth too hard. The enamel protects the inner tissues of your teeth, which are very sensitive. If damaged, the sensitive interior parts of your teeth will be exposed. Here are some signs that you could have damaged your enamel:
-
Yellow coloring on your teeth
-
Pain or sensitivity when eating cold or hot foods
-
Shiny substances on the surface of your teeth
-
Uneven edges on your teeth
The good news is that there are several ways through which you can protect your enamel to keep your teeth healthy and white. Some of these ways are:
-
Being gentle every time you are brushing your teeth — Ensure that you are using a soft brush
-
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day — Always use toothpaste and mouthwashes with fluoride
-
Avoid chewing gum constantly — If you must, only chew sugar-free gums. It reduces sugar and acid in the mouth
-
Reduce consumption of drinks high in sugars and acids, including fruit juices
-
Drink plenty of water throughout the day
-
Practice dental flossing
-
Consider eating cheese after your meals to balance out the acid in the foods consumed
-
Visit your dentist regularly for checkups
Quit Smoking
Smoking is not suitable for your general well-being, not just for your oral health. Tobacco is listed among the top killer products in America. It weakens your immune system, leaving you at greater risk for diseases that affect your blood vessels and heart, including cardiovascular diseases. Smoking is also associated with coronary heart disease and stroke, the leading causes of death in the U.S.
That aside, smoking is detrimental to your oral health. It causes a wide range of dental problems, including the following:
-
Tooth discoloration
-
Bad breath
-
High risk of developing periodontitis or gum disease, which is the leading cause of teeth loss
-
Inflamed salivary gland openings at the roof of your mouth
-
Increased buildup of tartar and plaque on your teeth could result in dental cavities
-
Increased loss of jaw bone
-
Delayed healing after a dental procedure like tooth extraction, oral surgery, and periodontal treatment
-
The reduced success rate of dental implant treatments
-
High risk of developing oral cancer
-
High risk of developing leukoplakia (white patches in the mouth)
Continuous use of tobacco products affects the attachment of the bone and soft tissues to your teeth, resulting in gum disease. Pocket tissues between your gum and teeth accumulate food particles. These are incredibly hard-to-reach areas, even for people who regularly brush and floss their teeth.
Generally, smoking interferes with the normal functioning of your gum tissue cells. It leaves you more susceptible to infections like periodontitis. It could also impair blood flow to your gums, affecting the rate at which your gums heal after an injury.
Visiting Your Dentist Regularly
Most dental issues we experience start small, then escalate over time. It helps to seek dental help immediately after a problem is detected to avoid paying more and treating a more serious condition. The problem is that some dental issues can go undetected in their onset stages. It takes the keen eye of an experienced dentist to know when there is a problem and how to treat it in its early stages to prevent it from exploding or recurring.
Regular visits to the dentists are recommended for this and other reasons. Your dentist checks your gums, jaws, teeth, and everything else in your mouth to ensure that you are in good oral health. If your dentist detects a problem, they will immediately recommend treatment to stop the problem from developing into a more severe health issue and prevent it from returning.
Visiting your dentist is as important as visiting your doctor for regular checkups. You do not need to feel unwell to see a dentist. California dentists provide preventative care by providing remedies for dental issues even before they are experienced. For instance, your dentist will recommend what to do and not do to prevent common dental problems like decay, dental fracture, and gum disease. Following these recommendations will surely leave you with healthy and white teeth.
Avoiding Stain-Causing Foods
Keeping your teeth white should not be challenging if you follow your dentist's recommendations for improved oral health. One of the recommendations your dentist will always give is to only stick to healthy foods and avoid stain-causing foods. A healthy diet will positively impact your general well-being and oral health. But stain-causing foods will leave your beautiful teeth discolored, affecting your self-esteem and confidence.
Sadly, most of the foods that people enjoy are stain-causing. They include soft drinks, coffee, tea, berries, red wine, and other colorful foods. They can cause permanent stains on the enamel of your teeth, leaving you with a damaged look and feel and unhealthy teeth.
Minimize your consumption of these foods. Ensure that you rinse your teeth thoroughly after consuming any of them. That, coupled with our previously discussed oral hygiene habits, will keep your teeth healthy and white.
Consider using a straw if you struggle with consuming your favorite drinks like coffee, tea, and some soft drinks. Using a straw will cause the stain-causing drink to bypass your front teeth, which are the main culprits of discoloration. Fortunately for you, we have reusable straws in our stores today that are cost-effective and eco-friendly.
Some medications can also stain your teeth. For instance, tetracycline (antibiotic) is known to cause gray teeth in babies whose teeth are developing. Some antibacterial mouthwashes can also stain your teeth, more so those containing cetylpyridinium or chlorhexidine. Other culprits include blood pressure medications, some antihistamines, and antipsychotic drugs. Excess fluoride and iron could also result in teeth discoloration. If you have been affected by one or more of the following, a skilled dentist will have a solution that will leave your teeth white and healthy.
Consume Foods that Strengthen and Whiten Your Teeth
In addition to practicing good oral hygiene, dental cleanings, and professional teeth whitening, you can choose foods that whiten and strengthen your teeth to enjoy white and healthy teeth for an extended period. Several foods are recommended under this category, including:
-
Strawberries
Strawberries have a high concentration of malic acid, an ingredient in most toothpaste. Malic acid is a natural astringent and also helps remove teeth' discoloration. But remember that strawberries are rich in citric acid too, which is known to weaken the enamel. Thus, you should delay brushing your teeth for about 30 minutes after consuming strawberries and other acid-rich foods to avoid damaging your enamel.
-
Celery, Apples, and Carrots
Crunchy vegetables and fruits can scrub out plaque buildup and bacteria on your teeth' surface. They also stimulate the production of saliva. Generally, fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of minerals and vitamins that strengthen your teeth and improve your oral health.
-
Leafy Green Vegetables
Foods like kale, lettuce, spinach, and romaine contain folic acid or Vitamin B9, which promotes cell growth and repair. They help reduce inflammation in the body and your gums, making your teeth more resilient to bacteria and plaque.
-
Cheese
Sugary and acidic foods will likely erode your enamel and dry your mouth. It leaves dental structures underneath the enamel exposed, leaving your teeth to appear more yellow than white. Cheese is rich in calcium, which strengthens our bones. Thus, it will strengthen your enamel and jawbone. Cheese is also rich in protein, vital in repairing the enamel. Chewing cheese also increases saliva production, can displace the bacteria in your mouth, and leave your mouth clean.
-
Baking Soda
The best alternative to toothpaste is baking soda. Its mild abrasiveness and alkalinity can eliminate teeth discoloration and scrub away plaque and bacteria from the surface of your teeth. Create a paste with baking soda and some water and apply it to your toothbrush as you do with toothpaste. Brush your teeth for about two minutes and enjoy whiter and healthier teeth.
Find Reliable Tarzana Dental Services Near Me
Healthy and white teeth will function well, improve your look and feel, and boost your confidence. But, it can be a challenge to keep your teeth healthy and white. A skilled dentist will give you tips on how you can achieve that to improve your oral health and general well-being. For instance, you must embrace healthier foods like fruits and vegetables and cut back on sugary and acidic foods. For more tips and quality dental care in Tarzana, contact Tarzana Dental Care at 818-708-3232 We are committed to providing you with the best quality dental care services at an affordable cost.