Flossing has long been considered a method to use to keep your teeth healthy. However, over the years, there has been more and more doubt cast over the effectiveness of this approach. Recently, the US government dropped the recommendation of flossing from its guidelines due to the fact that there is no scientific proof regarding its advantages. A lot of professors have also stated that more sophisticated trials are needed to determine whether there are any benefits to flossing, as it is still unproven. With that in mind, we decided to put together some other approaches you can follow to keep your teeth healthy.
- Use a straw – If you can avoid fizzy drinks altogether, great! If not, make sure you use a straw when you are drinking them. By doing this, the acid will bypass your teeth. You should still make sure you rinse your mouth out with water afterward. This will help to limit the damage caused by fizzy drinks.
- Change your toothbrush regularly – It is important to change your toothbrush at least every three months if you are to maintain a high level of oral hygiene. Every time you use your toothbrush, you are transferring bacteria from your mouth onto the toothbrush. Thus, if you continue to use your toothbrush after a few months, it won’t be effective. This is one of the simplest things to do, but it is something a lot of people overlook because they simply do not think about it. Some people keep their toothbrushes the same for the entire year. If you do this, you’re not going to be giving your teeth the attention they need and deserve.
- Gargle apple cider vinegar – If you can manage it, you should gargle apple cider vinegar in the morning, after which you can brush your teeth as you usually would. This is beneficial because the vinegar helps to kill bacteria in your gums and mouth while also whitening your teeth and removing stains.
- Quit smoking – This may sound incredibly obvious, but it is so important, and, therefore, it is worth including nonetheless. Not only can smoking turn your teeth yellow, but also it lowers the blood flow to your mouth. This is very dangerous, as it will increase your chances of developing oral cancers and periodontal disease. Smoking will also lower your soft tissue and bone’s ability to heal if you have any type of dental treatment and surgery. Plus, who really wants to have stained teeth and bad breath in any case? Of course, it can be a lot easier said than done to quit smoking. You may be reading this and thinking “if it was that straightforward, I would have done it by now.” We hear you, and there are some steps you can take to make the process easier for yourself. There are lots of different products on the market today, like nicotine patches, which can help you to achieve your goals. In addition to this, you may want to consider putting together a timeline to help yourself quit. A lot of people struggle to quit because the mountain seems too great. However, if you split this into smaller goals, i.e. reducing your nicotine intake every few weeks, this could make the whole process a lot more manageable for you because it does not feel like such a massive change all at once.
- Visit the dentist regularly- There are far too many people that do not go to the dentist on a regular basis. There are typically two reasons for this. Firstly, people do not want to spend money on a trip to the dentist. Secondly, people are nervous about going to the dentist. In regards to the former, if you spend a bit of money on regular check-ups now, you will save yourself a lot of money later down the line. In regards to feeling nervous, this is completely natural, and many people feel this way. However, your dentist will make you feel at ease, providing stress-free dentistry. Do not underestimate the importance of dental care. Take the time to source a dentist in your local area who has a good reputation and who you feel comfortable with. This will make a massive impact because you will be a lot more likely to end up returning to the dentist like Stead Willis, DMD as regularly as you should, therefore, maintaining good dental health.
- Nutrition – Of course, what you eat will impact the health of your gums and teeth. If you eat the right foods, you can ensure that your teeth are healthy for years and years to come. You need to eat foods that are low in starches and sugar, as this will reduce the acid that is produced. This is important because your mouth is filled with plaque and germs, which thrive on sugars and starches. These foods will attack your enamel and result in decay, which is why you need to remove the plaque.
- Consume important vitamins and calcium – Vitamin B complex is essential for protecting your teeth and gums from bleeding and cracking. Both Vitamin D and calcium are required for maintaining teeth and gum health. For maintaining healthy dental hygiene, you need a good dose of potassium, iron, iodine, zinc, and copper. However, calcium overall is arguably the most important. You can get it from dairy products, as well as broccoli and fortified orange juice.
These are simple yet effective ways to maintain healthy teeth. If you follow the advice mentioned above, you are bound to notice an improvement. Whether you floss or not is entirely up to you, but you should not rely on this alone to keep your teeth in good condition, as there is a lot of debate regarding how beneficial this really is. Make sure you are doing everything in your power to look after your teeth and give them the TLC they require. Regular dental checkups are essential in this.
