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7 Tips to keep your mouth healthy

7 Tips to Keep Your Mouth Healthy

A healthy mouth is a good indication of your overall health and helps you smile and eat what you want for years to come. Below are tips to help keep your mouth healthy.

  1. Visit your dentist regularly: Visiting the dentist at least twice a year is important because it allows your dentist to detect cavities, catch gum disease, early-stages of oral cancer, check your fillings, catch dry mouth or bad breath. Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic infectious diseases among children in the United States.
  2. Avoid sodas: Sodas are enjoyable to drink but they also play a large part in tooth decay. Although the occasional soda doesn’t hurt, a can or more a day makes your tooth enamel softer and more susceptible to cavities. Switch to water instead. If you need flavor add sliced citrus or crushed berries or mint leaves.
  3. Avoid sugary treats: Sugar is a major culprit in tooth decay. It creates bacteria and acidity in your mouth, causing plaque to form and eat away at your enamel and gums. 20% of the people in the United States will face tooth decay because of sugary treats, poor brushing or not flossing. If you eat sugary treats you should brush and floss daily.
  4. Quit smoking: The nicotine and tar in cigarettes turn your teeth an unsightly shade of yellow and eats away at your gums. For patients who smoke, the mouth is often the first place to notice adverse health effects from tobacco products. More than 16 million US adults are living with a disease caused by cigarette smoking which could lead to oral cancer.
  5. Use the right toothbrush: When determining which toothbrush is right for you, you should consider what your dental needs are. Most dentists agree that a soft-bristled toothbrush is best for teeth, especially for removing plaque and debris when you brush for two minutes. Medium and stiff bristles might be hard on your gums and enamel. Unless your dentist recommends brushing with a medium or hard toothbrush, stick with the soft brush.
  6. Use this proper brushing techniques: Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes. Brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Brush each tooth 10 to 15 times, but don’t overdo it. Overly aggressive brushing can damage teeth and erode your gum line.
  7. Floss daily: Flossing is one of the most important weapons against plaque and bacteria that sticks to the surfaces of your teeth. Plaque is the principal cause of tooth decay causes of gum disease, bad breath, and other oral issues. Flossing removes plaque and debris in places a tooth brush can’t reach. It also polishes tooth surfaces and decreases the risk of gum disease.

Following these steps can help ensure that you continue to enjoy a healthy mouth. If you have questions about how to keep your mouth healthy, contact Haight Family Dentistry in at our Plano or our Melissa, TX by calling 972-527-5555 or request an appointment online.