Here are 4 tips for managing your oral health between dental visits.
1. Drink Plenty of Water
Popular beverages like tea and coffee can stain your teeth. While this does not mean you should never drink them, choosing water on most occasions will keep your teeth whiter between dental cleanings.
Other beverages, such as soda, energy drinks, and kombucha, are acidic and can wear down your enamel. All sugary drinks, whether acidic or not, feed plaque if you consume them regularly.
2. Eat Nutritious Foods
Healthy food has a positive impact on your dental health. If you are deficient in vital nutrients, such as calcium, you face an increased risk of losing teeth at some point. A diet full of nutritious foods, such as lean meats, dairy, fruits, legumes, and vegetables, will give you the vitamins your body requires.
Fibrous vegetables such as celery are also healthy for the surfaces of your teeth. Since they require more chewing, fibrous vegetables stimulate increased saliva production and scrape your teeth clean.
3. Brush Twice a Day
It’s easy to see why you should brush your teeth in the evening. After eating and drinking throughout the day, you need to clean food particles and plaque-causing bacteria from your teeth.
Even when you brush and floss in the evening, morning oral care is also essential. When you sleep, your saliva production slows. Saliva contains enzymes that fight harmful bacteria. During the night, plaque has a chance to harden. Brushing each morning with fluoride toothpaste prevents plaque from taking hold on the surfaces of your teeth.
4. Always Floss
Even with the perfect brushing technique, you should always floss every night. Dental floss can access the hard-to-reach crevices between your teeth, including below your gumline.
Floss scrapes your teeth clean where a toothbrush cannot, which is vital for preventing gum disease. Keeping your teeth free of buildup also helps prevent cavities, which affect people of all ages.
Final Thoughts
Managing your oral health between dental visits includes a healthy diet in combination with a daily oral hygiene routine. If you are consistent when taking care of your health, you will reduce your chances of developing cavities or gum disease.
Are you looking for a dentist in Greenwood? Request an appointment with Dr. Stacy D. Johnson today for personalized oral health care.
Image: Freepik