Learning to Manage Your Dental Problems

3 Steps You Can Take To Protect Your Smile

30 January 2016 by Charlotte Beck

A beautiful smile helps to boost your confidence and gives you the ability to leave a good impression. Regular visits to your dentist, brushing your teeth twice a day, and flossing at least once a day helps you to make sure that your teeth and gums remain healthy. There are other steps that you can take and integrate into your daily routine in order to help protect your healthy smile. Your diet, cleanliness of your toothbrush, and other habits help to shape your oral health. Here are three steps you can take to protect your smile.

Replace a cup of coffee with a cup of green tea.

Coffee gives you a great jolt of caffeine; however, it is very acidic and can damage your tooth enamel. Instead of getting your caffeine with a cup of java, reach for a cup of green tea. The American Academy of Periodontology asserts that green tea is good for your gum health. It helps to reduce the hallmark symptoms of gingivitis, such as inflammation of the gum tissue and bleeding upon probing. It is thought that the antioxidant catechin helps to reduce inflammation, giving your immune system a needed boost to fight the bacteria that causes gum disease.

Change out your toothbrush every three months.

Your toothbrush is your most important tool in your oral health arsenal. According to Colgate, it is ideal to replace your toothbrush every three months. Over time, your toothbrush's bristles get worn down and can no longer remove debris from your teeth and gums. Also, bacteria can build up on your toothbrush and create colonies that infect your gums. You should also replace your toothbrush after you have a communicable illness, such as the flu or strep throat, as you can possibly get sick again after using the toothbrush.

Drink a glass of water after each meal.

In an ideal world, you should be able to brush your teeth after each meal; however, it is not typical to have a toothbrush with you all the time, or even the time to brush your teeth. The next best thing you can do is drink a glass of water. This helps to dilute sugars left behind on your teeth and can even loosen food that is stuck between your teeth and gums, making it easier to remove once you actually do brush your teeth. Drinking water also helps you to balance the pH in your mouth.

To learn more, contact a family dentist like Tony Parsley, DMD.

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