Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Mouth

Brushing, flossing, and rinsing is the trifecta of keeping your teeth and mouth healthy. But there is more to maintaining a healthy mouth for your overall health. There is more to keeping your teeth and gums healthy than ditching sticky sweets, soda, and smoking. 

5 Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Mouth

1. Regular visits

According to the Canadian Dental Association, 75% of Canadians go to the dentist annually.  It is recommended to bi-annually to keep your teeth and mouth healthy and strong. Regular cleanings and checkups help prevent serious gum and teeth diseases. Your dentist will be able to catch anything before it gets too serious, making it easier to treat. 

2. Diet

Reducing sugar intake is important to maintaining a healthy mouth. Sugar build up can create plaque on your teeth that produces bacteria which breaks down the enamel on your teeth. When the enamel is weak, your teeth are more likely to decay or break. A balanced diet is crucial to your teeth. Nutrients that promote strong bones, healthy gums, and fatty acids that reduce gum disease should be a part of your daily diet. 

3. Stop Smoking

Smoking does not only discolour your teeth. The nicotine and tar in cigarettes eat away at your gums and teeth. Your mouth becomes a breeding grounds for bacteria and infections. This bacteria makes your mouth more susceptible for gum disease and oral cancer which can affect your lips, gums, teeth, and tongue. 

4. Proper Brushing Technique

It’s common knowledge to brush twice a day, but if you aren’t brushing with the proper technique, your teeth may not be getting clean. Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle towards the gum line. This allows the bristles to clean under the gum line and between the teeth near the root. Use gentle, circular motions to brush. Brushing aggressively can actually damage your teeth and erode your gum line. 

5. Floss

Flossing promotes healthier teeth and gums. However, it is like brushing. There is a proper technique and doing it the wrong way can damage your gum line. Use about 12-inches of floss and wrap it around your index fingers. Have about 2-3 inches of floss between your fingers. It’s important to use fresh floss between each tooth so you don’t spread food particles. Slide the floss against the tooth to break up food particles and break up plaque without harming the gum line. 

What better time is there to implement a proper dental regime? 

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.