7 Ways to Improve Your Dental Hygiene

Your mouth is vital to communication and digestion. It also has the strongest muscle in the body (the tongue), the strongest bodily substance (tooth enamel), over 10,000 taste buds, and millions of bacteria. 

When it comes to digestion, everything begins in your mouth, with your teeth tearing and chewing to start the process. That’s why keeping your mouth healthy starts with caring for your teeth.

Without proper dental care, teeth and gums can become infected, causing a range of dental problems that affect the mouth and the body. 

Tooth decay results from improper tooth care, so let’s examine how poor dental hygiene leads to increased risk.

If you live in the Mamaroneck, New York, or Stamford, Connecticut, areas and are searching for ways to keep your teeth healthy, Dr. Gennadiy Kravets and our team at All Bright Dental can help.

Facts about tooth decay

The enamel that covers your teeth is the most durable substance in the body. The inner portions of your teeth depend on it to protect the entire tooth from infection and other forms of damage. Unfortunately, enamel can be compromised by these factors: 

• Sugary foods: sugar and starch in foods combine with harmful bacteria to create acids that penetrate enamel
• Plaque: forms when teeth aren’t cleaned regularly, and it erodes the enamel 
• Gum infection: improper dental care also leads to gum infections that damage teeth from beneath

Receding gums, a family history of cavities, dry mouth, and radiation therapy can all increase one's risk of tooth damage. In fact, 3.5 billion people worldwide are struggling with tooth damage or other oral health diseases. 

Ways to practice better dental hygiene

To reduce your risk of cavities and other dental problems, take these steps:

1. Proper brushing technique

When brushing, don’t be too aggressive or use hard bristle brushes. Use circular motions on each tooth to get every portion of it. Also, change toothbrushes approximately every three months.

2. Routine brushing and flossing schedule

Brush twice and floss at least once daily to clean the surfaces of your teeth and the spaces between them.

3. Use fluoride toothpaste

Despite some misconceptions, fluoride only presents health risks when used more than recommended. So, you don’t have to worry about toothpaste with fluoride. In fact, the low levels of fluoride in toothpaste actually strengthen your teeth. 

4. Use mouthwash

Mouthwash pairs with brushing and flossing to eliminate plaque and reduce your risk of gingivitis and halitosis.

5. Regular dental visits

General recommendations for dental checks are every six months, and prioritizing these visits will help you stay on top of any dental problems.

6. Dietary changes

Since starchy and sugary foods often encourage bad bacteria to damage teeth, consider dairy products, fruits, and vegetables instead. Also, drink plenty of water to help wash away sugars.

7. Lifestyle changes

If you’re a smoker, it affects your mouth, causing yellowing of teeth and your tongue, bad breath, and increasing your risk of gum disease. The sooner you stop smoking, the better.

Follow these tips, and your oral health will improve. If you have questions or concerns about your dental health, make an appointment with Dr. Kravets and All Bright Dental today.