4 Ways to Keep Your Teeth Healthy and Strong
Once you hit your mid-20s, you’ll start to notice changes in your mouth. Your gums will become more sensitive, or your teeth sensitive to cold and prone to bleeding, develop more plaque build-up and experience a decline in your oral health. Then again, this is all normal.
Everyone undergoes these changes as they age. Unfortunately, most of us don’t take the proper measures to protect our teeth as we get older, and therefore we see a marked increase in the number of adults that suffer from dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease.
This article will help you understand how to keep your teeth healthy throughout your entire life and achieve the perfect smile in four key ways:
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Stay on top of your dental visits
As you get older, you’ll want to monitor your dentist visits more closely. When you’re younger, you can usually go for about six months before receiving your next cleaning, but as an adult, it’s up to you if you have any dental concerns, and you should go for more regular checkups if possible.
Remember that dental cleaning does not replace the need for more intensive dental work like fillings or crowns. You should still visit the dentist for those procedures, even if you have anxiety about dentists. There are ways to work around this, such as going to a south florida sedation dentist so that you don’t have to be awake during the procedure.
Brush with the right tools
As you get older, you’ll want to make sure you’re using the correct type of brush to clean your teeth. Avoid using an electric toothbrush if you have sensitive gums, as it could worsen the pain.
Instead, opt for a soft-bristled manual toothbrush to help you gently clean your teeth without irritating your gums. It would be best if you kept an eye out for a few different types of bristles when shopping for a toothbrush.
Nylon-brushed toothbrushes are an excellent choice for most people as they’re soft and gentle but offer a great clean. You should also consider a more specialized toothbrush if you have sensitive teeth, gum issues, or have undergone dental work recently.
Keep Teeth Healthy: Stay hydrated
This one may seem like an odd suggestion, but staying hydrated is one of the best ways to protect your teeth. You’ve probably heard this advice before, but it’s for a good reason.
Water is essential for your teeth because it helps to neutralize the acids in your mouth. These acids are what cause your teeth to decay over time. If you drink plenty of water, you will flush these acids out of your mouth, preventing tooth decay and keeping your teeth strong and healthy for longer.
Drinking water can also help to reduce the amount of saliva in your mouth, which is beneficial because saliva contributes to tooth decay.
Use tongue scraping and chewing techniques
As you get older, you’ll want to pay extra attention to your tongue. Your tongue is home to millions of microorganisms, and plaque buildup can lead to bad breath and tooth infection. To prevent this, brush your tongue regularly and consider using a tongue scraper twice weekly.