10 Top Tips for Healthy Teeth and Gums from your Dentist
At Bloor Smile Dental, we advise all our patients about the steps they need to take to build and retain lifelong and superior dental health. We adopt a comprehensive approach to dental care. This approach includes not just dental treatments but also includes various practices that ensure healthy teeth and gums.
This blog post is a detailed guide to help you achieve optimal dental hygiene with just these ten steps of care.
1. Regular Brushing and Flossing:
Maintaining a consistent oral care routine is paramount. Brushing your teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste helps eliminate plaque and prevents cavities. Equally important – flossing daily will remove food particles and plaque from areas between teeth that a toothbrush may not be able to reach.
2. Proper Brushing Technique
Using the proper technique while brushing is as essential as brushing your teeth twice daily. You should position your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to your teeth and use gentle, circular motions to brush your teeth. Make sure to brush your teeth’ front, back, and chewing surfaces.
Why should you follow this advice? This brushing technique prevents gum damage while at the same effectively cleaning debris away from your teeth.
3. Choose the Right Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Selecting the right toothbrush and toothpaste also contributes significantly to the quality of your dental health. Opt for a soft-bristle toothbrush to avoid enamel erosion and gum irritation. Fluoride toothpaste has the benefit of being able to prevent tooth decay and strengthen your dental enamel.
4. Balanced Diet for Dental Health
This is not something you would expect in oral care! However, your diet, what you choose to eat in other words, dramatically impacts your oral health. To strengthen your teeth, eat a diet that is dominant with calcium-rich foods like dairy products, leafy greens, and nuts. 
Boost your diet further by choosing fruits and vegetables that are crunchy. These fruits and vegetables help increase saliva production as you eat and work naturally to clean teeth surfaces.
5. Limit Sugary and Acidic Foods
Reducing sugar intake is crucial in preventing tooth decay. The bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars, this produces acids which erodes dental enamel. Similarly, acidic foods and beverages like citrus fruits and sodas can stain and weaken the enamel of your teeth.
If you do drink a can of soda or a glass of fruit juice, remember to rinse your mouth with water afterward.
6. Stay Hydrated
Another critical lifelong habit to acquire and retain is drinking water. Adequate water intake keeps your body hydrated and helps maintain saliva production. Saliva helps neutralize acids, remineralize teeth, and wash away food particles.
7. Regular Dental Check-ups
Your dentist will recommend a schedule to you for hygiene visits. Based on your oral health, this could be once, twice, or thrice a year. These scheduled visits to your dentist are essential as they help with the early detection and prevention of dental issues.
Professional dental cleanings are essential for good oral health. These cleanings help remove stubborn plaque and tartar from your teeth; remember that, too, can lead to gum disease and cavities.
8. Fluoride Treatments
Ask your dentist about fluoride treatment. Fluoride treatments provided by your dentist help strengthen the enamel of your teeth and can even help reverse early signs of tooth decay.
9. Protect Teeth from Injury
If you participate in contact sports, then wearing a mouthguard is essential. The mouth guard is a protective dental appliance that helps prevent injuries to your teeth and jaw which may need emergency dental treatment.
Equally, if you grind your teeth at night or due to stress, you must wear a custom night guard created by your dentist.
10. Avoid Smoking and Tobacco Products
As we all know, smoking and using tobacco can cause oral cancer. Smoking and tobacco usage can also lead to gum disease and tooth decay; quitting these habits will significantly improve your dental and overall health.
Adopting these ten oral health practices into your daily routine will undoubtedly enhance the health of your teeth and gums. A commitment to consistent oral care, a balanced diet, and regular visits to your dentist at Bloor Smile Dental will pave the way for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Your journey to optimal dental health starts with these simple yet highly effective practices.
If you have any questions about your oral health, do not hesitate to call us at 416-604-4009.
