A healthy smile can lead to a healthy body, as the many ways to care for the smile can impact overall health. From routine brushing and flossing to visiting the dentist bi-annually, keeping your gums and teeth healthy can be a straightforward, simple process. However, there are some additions you can add to your daily routine to gain positive remarks on your oral health by your hygienist and dentist.
Brushing Your Tongue and Cheeks
When we think about brushing our teeth in the morning and the evening, we don’t consider brushing our tongue, let alone our cheeks. But these are great places for bacteria and debris to hide, and they can infect the rest of the smile. Not brushing these areas can cause bad breath, as food particles left on the surface of the tongue produces bacteria that emits an unpleasant odor. Taking a small amount of fluoride toothpaste on the toothbrush, brush down from the back of the tongue to the front to remove all the white debris.
Mouthwash
Mouthwash comes in a variety of flavors and can target common dental issues such as tooth decay and gum disease. Mouthwashes are effective in removing left over particles in the smile before and after brushing and flossing. They add a boost of fluoride and other nutrients to increase gum health and tooth enamel strength. Patients can keep the smile smelling fresh throughout the day by carrying a travel sized mouthwash with them on the go. Simply take two tablespoons full of mouthwash and swish it around for 30 seconds and spit it out. Mouthwash dedicated for kids can color debris, letting them know that they might need to brush more thoroughly to remove all the plaque from their smile.
Vegetables and Fruits
A balanced diet of fruits and vegetables is necessary to keep the entire body healthy. Vegetables and fruits also provide the smile an added boost of nutrients and vitamins that strengthen enamel and immunity to infection. However, fruits such as apples and vegetables such as celery have a unique texture that when eaten raw can clean the smile like a tooth brush would. The act of chewing on a celery stick or an apple slice enacts the production of salvia, which can wash away plaque causing debris as well.
You can keep your smile healthy between dental visits by adding some of these tips to your daily routine. For more information about our dental treatments or to schedule a visit, call our office today.