6 Simple Tips for Keeping Your Teeth & Gums Healthy

We all want a smile that people notice, but a beautiful smile doesn’t come easily. It requires some extra work to help keep your teeth and gums beautiful and healthy, but when you see that smile in the mirror, you’ll know it was worth it. Here are a few tips to help you keep your mouth healthy for years to come.

See the dentist. Many people don’t go to a dentist until they feel pain, but if they had gone to a dentist earlier, that pain may have been prevented. A dentist can check for potential problems and treat them before they’re serious. Your dentist can also tell you if you’re properly caring for your teeth and make recommendations you can follow at home.

Be gentle. When you’re cleaning in the hard to reach places of your house, the harder you scrub, the better. So why not use this technique with your teeth? While brushing as hard as you can may remove more dirt, it will also cause damage to your teeth enamel and your sensitive gums. Brushing too hard really just does more harm than help. Brushing your teeth gently with your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle gets rid of most of the germs and plaque without ruining your teeth.

Brush longer. The average person brushes their teeth for about 45 seconds. To properly clean all surfaces of your teeth, you need to brush for a full two minutes. If you have troubles doing this, get a kitchen timer and put it in your bathroom. Even better, they make electric toothbrushes that automatically stop after two minutes. Make sure you’re getting to all the hard to reach places and not just brushing the easy places over and over. And remember to brush at least two times a day.

Stay soft. Just as you shouldn’t brush too hard, you shouldn’t use a toothbrush that is too harsh for your teeth. All toothbrushes have “hardness factors”; you should choose a toothbrush that is soft or extra-soft. Avoid brushes that are rated medium or hard; they’ll damage that beautiful smile.

Don’t stop with brushing. There are vast expanses in your mouth that can’t be cleaned using a toothbrush. All those cracks and crevices between your teeth need cleaning too. That’s why you should floss and use mouthwash every day. They get in all those hard to reach spots where bacteria love to hide.

Watch what you eat. In addition to properly cleaning and caring for your teeth, you can keep your smile beautiful by keeping the rest of your body healthy with a proper diet. You should get adequate amounts of calcium, phosphorous and Vitamin D to help keep your teeth strong and beautiful. Don’t forget to get enough Vitamin A and C for good gum health.

By taking these simple and easy steps you too can have a healthy smile that lasts for years and years.