Tooth decay and gum disease are preventable. These oral diseases are often caused by poor oral hygiene. However, taking a few extra steps each day can significantly decrease your chances of developing these diseases. Listed below are a few simple things you can do at home to maintain good oral health:
Brush and Floss Your Teeth Regularly
In addition to visiting your dentist every six months, make sure you’re brushing and flossing your teeth every day. You should also be sure to consume a healthy diet and visit the dentist for routine checkups so that minor issues can be corrected before they turn into major problems.
By maintaining good oral health at home, you can protect your smile from tooth decay and gum disease. Talk to your dentist about an at-home oral hygiene routine that will keep your smile looking and feeling its best!
Eat a Balanced and Nutritious Diet
Your mouth is prepared for digestion before you eat. You swallow saliva, which contains enzymes that begin breaking down fats and sugars. Saliva also contains antibodies that help to protect your mouth from microbes that can cause infection and inflammation.
To protect your oral health, be sure to eat a well-balanced and nutritious diet. Avoid eating sugary foods that can feed oral bacteria. If you snack throughout the day, opt for healthy options like cheese, nuts, or fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s also important to avoid alcohol and tobacco products, which can contribute to various oral health issues.
Limit Between-meal Snacking
The foods you eat and the beverages you drink have a significant impact on your oral hygiene and your overall health, so it’s important to make healthy choices that benefit both your oral and overall health. If you’re like most people, you may snack throughout the day rather than eat three meals per day. Between-meal snacking is good for you in moderation—if you choose healthy foods to snack on. But snacking can also be bad for your teeth when it involves sugary or acidic snacks such as cookies, candy, cake, soda, fruit juices, dried fruits, and sports drinks. Our mouths have bacteria on them at all times, but they eat the sugars in our food and turn them into acid, which softens our enamel and causes tooth decay. So avoid between-meal snacking whenever possible, and if you must snack, choose nutritious foods such as raw vegetables with hummus or a cheese stick.
Quit Smoking
Smoking isn’t just bad for your general health, but it could also lead to gum disease and even oral cancer. By quitting smoking, you’re also less likely to experience tooth loss and other oral health issues. Giving up cigarettes isn’t easy, but you can find help through counseling or medication. Visit the dentist for regular checkups to help quit smoking and maintain good oral health.
If you’re interested in scheduling your next appointment with us, visit Rittenhouse Dental Group at 255 S. 17TH ST., STE. 2807, Philadelphia 19103, or call 215-546-2311 for the best dental care.