Nothing beats a warm smile in breaking social barriers. A flash of your pearly whites can easily break down invisible barriers allowing you to meet new friends and maybe even win a much-needed contract for your company. That’s why it’s important to keep on refreshing your smile with these dental care tips.
Brush up on your teeth-brushing habits
Everyone knows that it is important to brush teeth at least twice a day. But a more important thing to keep in mind is to brush for a good two minutes, at least. There are now plenty of mobile apps which allow you to monitor the length of time spent brushing the teeth. There are also advanced toothbrushes that come with sensors telling you if you’ve brushed your pearly whites correctly. Brushing not only the surface of the teeth but also the areas in between gum and teeth is as important as twice daily brushing. Most of the microorganisms you’d want to get rid of are actually not on the surface of teeth, but rather in the tiny spaces at the gum line.
Take good care of your toothbrush
Most folks take their toothbrushes for granted. Many just leave these contraptions lying in a pool of water at the sink. Always store your toothbrush in an upright position to help drain excess water from the bristles. Moisture attracts germs and you surely don’t want to be brushing your teeth with a device that is already laden with bacteria. Use a toothbrush holder for such a purpose. Don’t make the mistake of putting it in the same container or cover that it came with, unless you also clean this container. Also make sure to replace old and worn toothbrushes. Many brushes today come with color indicators that will help you see when it’s time to get a new one. If your toothbrush doesn’t come with such a feature, you can take a look at the brush from the back of its head. If bristles are peeking at the sides, then it’s time for a new brush.
Don’t forget the floss
Just as regular toothbrushing is important, daily flossing is also crucial as there are certain things that toothbrush bristles simply cannot remove or even reach. Flossing at least once daily is highly recommended. Make sure never to reuse your dental floss, however, as you’ll simply reintroduce the germs into your teeth. A handy tool to have is a flossing pick. This actually resembles an ordinary toothpick, but with a piece of dental floss strung on one end.
Visit your dentist on a regular basis
Most of us visit our dentists only when we’ve got something to be fixed in our teeth or oral cavities. By then the problem would have already grown worse that we’re actually faced, with humongous dental bills. Regular biannual visit to the dentist shouldn’t hurt. Moreover, it will help us better understand the current state of health of our teeth, gums, and other structures of the oral cavity. You can refer to this article for more information. Dentists can perform a more thorough cleaning of our dental and oral structures in a way that no regular toothbrushing and flossing can. They can also help you identify dental problems even before they start manifesting themselves. This way you’ll know exactly what to do to prevent such dental problems.
Cut down on starchy and sweet delicacies and beverages
Yes, these are delicacies that most people really cannot live without. Unfortunately, these are also the same kind of stuff that bacteria and fungi need to grow and proliferate. What happens is that starchy foods tend to stick onto the surface of the teeth, making them more difficult to remove unless one brushes the teeth. Sweet and sugary foodstuffs provide fuel for microorganisms to thrive. It’s like feeding them and hastening their growth. This also hastens the speed at which they are able to produce plaque and build up tartar, things that are more efficiently removed by a dentist.
These are just some of the many ways by which you can refresh your smile by taking good care of your teeth. They don’t require much; they just need to be observed, lived, and made an integral part of your hygiene routine.
