Tips To Maintain Good Oral Health

Good oral health is important for many reasons. First, your smile is often the first thing people notice about you. Having a healthy white smile helps you make a great first impression. Good oral health also benefits your overall health. Gum disease and tooth decay have been linked to a number of serious health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes. While good oral health can definitely improve your quality of life, poor oral health can do the opposite. Here are a few practices that can improve your oral health and smile.

• Brush and Floss Regularly

Brushing and flossing help to remove plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that accumulates on your teeth. You should brush at least twice a day for two minutes each time. To floss correctly, follow these steps:

• Wind 18 inches of floss around your middle fingers. Tie a knot in the floss to make it easier to handle.
• Hold the floss tightly between your thumb and forefingers, and slide it gently between each tooth, moving it up and down a few times.
• Curve the floss around the base of the tooth, and slide it gently up and down to remove bacteria and plaque.

• Limit Sugar Intake

Too much sugar in the diet can lead to cavities and dental decay. Even healthy, natural sugars found in fruit, fruit juices, and milk can cause problems if they remain in the mouth for hours at a time. Some types of bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugars and produce acids that wear away at tooth enamel, causing cavities.

• Use Fluoride

Fluoride helps strengthen the enamel of your teeth. This helps keep tooth decay and cavities at bay. When combined with brushing and flossing, fluoride is arguably one of the most beneficial tools in the fight against tooth decay.

• See Your Dentist 

To keep your smile healthy, it’s important to see your dentist regularly. The recommended frequency for dental cleanings and exams is once every six months. If you have a history of poor oral hygiene or if you’re at high risk for developing dental problems, you may need to visit more frequently.

• Quit Smoking

One of the top causes of tooth loss in adults is smoking. Cigarettes are harmful and can cause gum disease, oral cancer, and bad breath. People who smoke cigarettes are more likely to develop gum disease and oral cancer, and these smoking-related ailments can ruin your smile. Smoking also causes bad breath. So, one of the best things you can do to your oral health is to quit smoking.

Dentists of Miami and Orthodontics have expert dental professionals who provide the best dental treatments to patients with the help of the latest technologies and modern amenities. For more details and appointments, call us at (305) 290-4999, book online, or visit us at 15790 SW 56th St, Miami, FL 33185.