How to Take Care of Teeth at Home

Going to the dentist is an essential part of good oral health care. The dentist will be able to detect the earliest signs of dental problems, and can treat these issues even before they have a chance to worsen. Professional teeth cleaning will remove food debris and plaque buildup that may not be removed by regular tooth brushing alone.

However, there are plenty of ways to take care of teeth at home. Personal oral health care is just as important in the maintenance of a healthy, beautiful smile as professional dental help. Taking care of teeth at home will not take a huge amount of time to complete, and will go a long way in the achievement and maintenance of a healthy smile that will last for a long period of time.

1. Regular tooth brushing will remove food debris from inside the mouth. Keeping the mouth clean and free of food pieces is important because the food debris can contribute to the development of plaque. The plaque can coat the surface of teeth and the gum line, causing dental problems and gum problems.
2. Dental floss reaches the areas between the teeth and the gum line to remove even the smallest food pieces. The hard-to-reach areas inside the mouth may not be reached by a tooth brush, so the dental floss is essential in keeping the mouth clean to prevent the buildup of harmful bacteria and plaque.
3. Going for a healthy diet helps keep the teeth healthy. Avoiding food items that have high sugar content can keep your smiles healthier, since the sugar contributes to the breaking down of the tooth enamel. Chewing on crunchy fruits and vegetables such as apples and celery can help clean the surface of teeth, and stimulate better saliva production – an important part of good oral health since a dry mouth can lead to gum disease, bad breath, and other dental problems.
4. Hydrate with water, which keeps your mouth moist and flushes away bits of food after meal times. At times when tooth brushing is not readily convenient, gargling and rinsing the mouth with water will help keep the mouth clean and moist to prevent plaque-causing bacteria from building up.
5. Smoking or using tobacco products can harm the teeth and the overall health condition. The chemicals found in tobacco and cigarettes are harmful to the teeth, the gums, and the whole oral cavity; the cancer-causing ingredients are also harmful to the whole body. Smoking negatively affects the appearance of a smile, because this habit stains the teeth, leaving the smile looking very unhealthy and unattractive.