Maintaining optimal oral health is essential to overall well-being. Not only does it contribute to a healthy smile, but it can also prevent serious health issues and help you avoid costly dental work. By incorporating the following practices into your regular dental hygiene routine, you will see an immediate benefit to your oral health.

Here are 10 tips to help you keep your teeth and gums in top shape:

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How to Maintain Healthy Teeth and Gums

1. Maintain regular dental check-ups.Maintain the frequency of hygiene visits that your dentist and hygienist recommend. This should be every six months, or more frequently for people with a high-risk profile. During this visit, we’ll remove any plaque and tartar buildup and examine your mouth to ensure we are staying ahead of dental problems.
2. Practice effective dental hygiene.A strong oral hygiene practice will include brushing at least two times per day and cleaning between your teeth with floss, Opal Picks or a water pick. Your hygienist can give you tips on the best way to get in between your teeth and ensure you’re effectively removing food from larger spaces.
3. Don’t use your teeth as a tool.Our teeth were not designed to open packages, remove tags or trim your nails. Doing so will damage the edges of your teeth, and you may find ridges and indentations. If you have porcelain veneers, using your teeth as a tool could also damage the veneer.
4. Listen to your body.If you think you need to see a dentist, please make an appointment. You are in tune with your body and know when something is not right. Our team is happy to run the proper diagnostics to determine if there is an issue. The best-case scenario would be that nothing is wrong. But if something is wrong, we can get ahead of the issue and prevent undue pain.
5. Follow through on your treatment plan.We talk a lot about treatment plans and determining your As, Bs, and Cs. Once you have a treatment plan in place, it’s important to follow through and complete the As within the first month and the Bs within the first year. The Cs are typically aesthetic and can be completed at your leisure. Please, don’t ignore the Bs because if you wait too long, they will become As.
6. Invest in quality dental care.As with most things in life, you get what you pay for when it comes to dentistry. Find a dentist who is quality oriented and invested in the long-term health of your teeth. Your dentist should be a resource to help you develop oral health and predictability. When this happens, you’ll avoid excess dentistry and save money in the long run.
7. Be cognizant of what you eat and drink.Your diet has a direct impact on your oral health. We recommend that our patients limit their intake of processed carbohydrates and sugary or acidic drinks. When you consume these things, you’re feeding the bad bacteria in your mouth and are increasing your risk of cavities. Drinking something like sweet tea on a regular basis could be undermining your oral health and costing you money.
8. Be mindful of acid reflux.Acid can also come from the stomach by way of acid reflux. If you notice that your teeth are becoming thinner or more translucent and the edges are jagged, this may be from the acid in your stomach. This could be the result of a poor diet, or something like sleep apnea. The next step would be to speak with your doctor to find ways to control your acid reflux.
9. Avoid smoking and vaping.Smoking of any kind can be detrimental to your teeth. With vaping being a popular form of smoking today, we are seeing more and more patients with a sticky residue along the gumline. That is because the vaping substance is full of sugar and ingredients that can cause cavities and gum disease. If you are a vaper, please consider quitting.
10. Pay attention to your salivary flow.Saliva is your friend when it comes to oral health. Reduced salivary flow is linked to cavities, demineralization of teeth, tooth sensitivity and oral infections. We often notice dry mouth as a side effect of prescription medications and antihistamines. If you notice that your mouth is consistently dry, speak with your medical team to determine how to best address this.

By following these simple tips, you can significantly improve your oral health and enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles. Remember, prevention is key, so schedule regular dental check-ups and maintain good oral hygiene habits.

Need an Oral Check-Up?

If you’re interested in improving your oral health, call our office to schedule a consultation. You can schedule a dentist appointment online, or call us at (813) 689-4226.