8 Simple Tips To Keep Your Smile Perfect And Your Mouth Healthy!

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We all know that for our smile to remain lily-white we need to brush, floss, and rinse regularly. But proper oral hygiene measures don’t end here, as it turns out. Due to poor hygiene, there may be problems with a bad breath.


Here’s what David Leader, DMD, an assistant clinical professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, recommends to keep your mouth in a perfect condition:

1. Go to the dentist regularly


Here’s some statistics for you: about 50 per cent of adult Americans don’t have annual dental check-up for various reasons, such as fear of dentists, not having enough money, and simply assuming everything is OK with their mouths. The American Dental Association recommends visiting your dentist two times a year to detect oral problems early and tackle them before they progress.


2. Good dental care is important regardless of age.
People of any age need proper dental care. You need to take your child to the dentist for the first time before he or she turns 1. While your child is still very young, he or she needs help brushing his or her teeth. Senior people can have problems, too. Arthritis can make it difficult to brush and floss, and they produce less saliva, which can lead to dental problems and discomfort for people who wear dentures.



3. Limit your consumption of soda
Two substances found in soda – phosphoric acid and citric acid – damage the enamel of your teeth. It’s OK to have a can of soda from time to time, but if you drink a can or more each day, you’re asking for trouble. If you want something to drink but find pure water too bland, put some fruit slices or berries into the water to add taste.



4. Eat less sugar
Parents told this to many of us: don’t eat too much candy, it will damage your teeth. And they were 100% right – sugar increases acidity and the amount of bacteria in your mouth, which leads to plaque and damages your enamel and gums. So it’s best to limit your sugar consumption, and try to follow the recommendation to brush and floss after every meal.


5. Quit smoking
Oral problems are one of many health issues that smoking causes. Nicotine and tar that cigarettes contain make your teeth yellow and damage your gums. Smoking makes perfect conditions for plaque on your teeth and for bacteria. It damages tissue, ruins the bone supporting teeth, and raises the risk of tooth loss and even oral cancer.


6. Change your toothbrush regularly

It’s recommended to use toothbrushes with soft bristles. You should change it after 2–3 month of use. When you see that bristles are bent or otherwise damaged, it’s time for a new toothbrush.


7. Learn how to brush your teeth right
It’s common knowledge that brushing your teeth at least two times a day is the norm, but the way you do it also matters. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle, pointed toward the gum line, and use gentle, short, circular motions. Every tooth needs to be brushed 10–15 times, but not excessively. Intense brushing can actually hurt your teeth and gums.


8. Floss regularly and properly

Some of us tend to forget about it, but flossing is an essential part of proper dental hygiene. But you need to know how to do it right, because if you do it wrong, you can hurt your gums. Wrap about a foot of dental floss around your index fingers, leaving approximately two inches between your fingers to apply to the teeth. Use a new part of floss for every tooth, and press it tight to the tooth to break up plaque and avoid damage to your gums.