You have probably experienced being nagged by your parents to brush your teeth. You might have also experienced the scare when going to the dentist’s office. And whenever you go to the dentist’s office, you are sure that they will click their tongue as disapproval for your dental hygiene.
If you did go through some of those situations growing up, then you’re like most children. Dental care is not something kids are excited about even if it would give them stronger and whiter teeth. But it’s not just kids who have bad dental care habits. Adults themselves have grown to have bad oral care habits as early as 30 years old, hence their teeth become cracked and yellowish.
Signs That You Are Neglecting Your Teeth
There are obvious signs that your teeth are getting damaged. Teeth that are turning yellow is one sign and this can could be caused by acid staying in your teeth that eat away the enamel. Cracked teeth can show signs of impact on your teeth as well. Other signs of neglect are the formation of plaque, frequent inflammation in the gums, and moving teeth.
The moment you notice these signs, it’s time to take your dental hygiene seriously. This page will give you tips on how you can start taking care of your teeth as early as now.
Tip #1: Brush your teeth twice daily.
This is an oldie but goodie tip because brushing your teeth removes a lot of food and drink residue that when left behind cause plaque to form. Brushing at least twice a day will prevent the conversion of food to acid which damages the teeth. At the same time, when you brush, make sure that you are using fine bristles so that the spaces between your teeth will be cleaned.
Tip #2: If you can’t brush, use mouthwash and floss.
Brushing your teeth is good, but doing it more than four times a day can damage your teeth too. So, when you’ve already brushed for two times today, you can use mouthwash to wash away the remaining food in your mouth and you can couple it with a floss to make sure that there is no food stuck between your teeth.
Tip #3: When doing sports, use a mouthguard.
Taking care of your teeth is useless if you expose it to contact sports that can knock them off. If you box, wrestle or play ice hockey, make sure that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth from any injuries. This will also soften the blow on your teeth whenever someone hits them.
Tip #4: Say goodbye to sugary foods.
Sugary foods damage your teeth because the sugar is converted into acid that eats away the enamel. Although a healthy amount of sugar is necessary for your body to be healthy, you shouldn’t eat in excess of that if you want to keep your teeth healthy and white.
If sugary foods are your go-to options when you want a snack, try to change your diet by eating more fruits and vegetables. Avoid snacking on junk food and candies. The same goes for sugary drinks like soda and powdered juices.
Tip #5: Use a fluoride-rich toothpaste.
Fluoride is the component that strengthens your teeth. You can get enough fluoride from buying toothpaste that has a high fluoride content. When you brush, leave the toothpaste on your teeth for 30 seconds and then gargle it off.
Tip #6: Visit the dentist regularly.
Yes, you should visit your dentist regularly. Regularly means at least twice a year to ensure that your teeth are properly assessed and early signs of damage will be detected. Your dentist will also advise you on how you can properly care for your teeth or ways on how you can fix damaged teeth.
Caring for your teeth is a must and it isn’t difficult at all. If you want to keep having a clean set of white teeth, then you should start taking care of them right now. You don’t have to wait for the time when you have to spend a lot on oral surgery because of a tooth problem. Besides, you don’t want to subject yourself to artificial teeth if you can avoid it.