Everybody should aspire to have healthy teeth, and if you’ve worked hard and taken good care of yours, your dentist will give you a tick of approval at your annual check-up.
However, just like a healthy person might continue to exercise and eat well, someone with healthy teeth should continue taking steps to care for their oral health.
If that’s you, here’s how you can maintain your healthy teeth, and keep getting that dental tick of approval every time you see a dentist (and only need to see one for check-ups, rather than treatments!).
Teeth brushing
Brushing your teeth is such a simple task, but one that can make such a huge difference to your oral health now and in the years to come.
Twice per day, thoroughly brush all over your teeth, taking special care to brush the hard-to-reach spots at the back. Brush for two minutes overall and keep in mind that there’s no need to push down hard.
This simple act helps to remove food and plaque from your teeth. When you don’t brush, the bacteria in the plaque feeds on the sugars you consume and creates an acid that attacks the enamel on your teeth. It also allows the plaque to harden into tartar, which appears as a yellow-brown stain and must be removed by a professional.
Flossing
Flossing is just as important as teeth brushing when it comes to attaining and maintaining healthy teeth. Although this time, you only need to floss once per day.
The goal with flossing is to remove the food and plaque from between your teeth, and just under the gum line. This helps to ensure food debris doesn’t get stuck out of reach of your toothbrush, and stops plaque from building up between your teeth.
If you have trouble flossing, consider trying a water flosser or a stick flosser to help make this habit easier to maintain.
Minimise sugar intake
There’s no shame in being a sweet tooth, but it is important to try to keep sugar intake to a minimum when possible to help maintain your good oral health.
That’s because the bacteria in plaque feeds on sugar. So the more sugar you have, the more energy and strength you’re giving to the bacteria that can break down your tooth enamel and weaken your teeth.
By reducing your sugar, you are depriving the bacteria of the nourishment they need to grow, and therefore keeping your plaque and tooth damage to a bare minimum.
Dental check-ups
Great dental hygiene at home is a fantastic first step, but it’s always a good idea to maintain a regular annual check-up with your dentist for a professional dental exam.
During this exam, your dentist will visually inspect the health of your teeth and gums, checking for signs of gum disease, tooth decay, unnatural wear and tear, and other potential problems. They will also take an x-ray to see what’s going on under the gum line.
Additionally, your dental hygienist will perform a professional cleaning on your teeth. This will remove any tartar that has built up over the year, which can happen in some areas even with good brushing and flossing.
At the end of your appointment, your dentist can provide specific instructions for how to best care for your teeth. There might be a spot you often miss when brushing, or they might suggest a particular toothpaste that could suit your needs.
Call (09) 480 5931 or get in touch today to book your annual check-up and keep your healthy teeth in the best condition possible.
