Taking care of your teeth should be on your mind at some point every day. You obviously know that you should be brushing your teeth, flossing, and visiting the dentist regularly. However, there are other things you can do to further prevent any plaque build-up or tooth rot. If you want to keep your smile looking great, add these things to your dental routine!
Eat Calcium-Rich Foods
Maintaining strong dental health is not just about avoiding sugary foods at night, but about putting better foods in their place. While sugar leaves your mouth vulnerable to harmful bacteria, calcium can fight off and help defend your mouth from the malicious microorganisms.
According to Portman Dental Care, milk, vegetables, beans, yogurt, and even canned salmon have significant portions of calcium in them. Whether or not you are lactose intolerant, you should be able to find calcium in some form, even if it’s just a minor one. Aside from all of these food options, you can also supplement calcium rich foods with tablets. They aren’t as yummy, but they still work to a lesser degree.
Use Mouthwash
While brushing your teeth and flossing every week works wonders for your oral health, you can always take it a step further. According to Stellar Family Orthodontics, mouthwash can kill bacteria in your mouth before it does damage to your teeth. The minty solution also makes your mouth taste wonderful, which might be a huge need after eating a strong meal. Talk with your dentist to see which mouthwash works for you. While some have a potent “alcoholic bite” to them, others are much tamer and work for both children and adults.
Time Your Brushing
According to Beavers Dentistry, one thing that you need to focus on besides just brushing your teeth is whether or not you have brushed for long enough. Dentists typically advise their patients to brush for at least two minutes each session—thirty seconds on each quarter of the mouth. If you want to guarantee that your mouth is as healthy as possible, you should time your brushing to match these guidelines. If there are certain teeth that seem prone to cavities, spend a little extra time on them!
Too often people feel comfortable brushing for a minute total, and then giving it up to do other things. Adding these items to your routine will help your dental health tremendously, however. You’ll be able to go to the dentist without fear, confident when you open your mouth that you’ve done all you can!
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