In the United States alone, an estimated 178 million people have at least one missing tooth. Worse, approximately 40 million individuals no longer have their natural teeth.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be in the same boat, so long as you practice proper teeth care.
So, ready to learn how to take care of your teeth and gums? Then read on, as we’ve outlined the best strategies below.
Table of Contents
1. Limit Your Intake of Sugary Drinks
Sugary beverages like soda, fruit juices, and sports drinks can discolor your teeth. Moreover, they can raise your risks for tooth decay and gum disease. That’s because the harmful bacteria in the mouth love to feast on sugar.
As such, one of the best teeth whitening tips to abide by is to avoid sugary drinks. For the same reason, cutting back on such beverages can help keep your pearly whites and gums healthy.
2. Floss First
If you floss before you brush, you may be able to remove more plaque than if you did it the other way around. Moreover, the former sequence may help raise fluoride concentrations in your mouth.
So, if you’ve always brushed before you flossed, try doing the opposite. Just make sure you commit to doing this practice after every meal or, at the very least, twice a day.
3. Up Your Brushing Time to Two Minutes
In the US, the average estimated brushing time is only 45 seconds. However, research suggests that it’s not enough time to get rid of food debris and plaque. By contrast, brushing for 120 seconds can eliminate up to 26% more plaque.
As such, the expert advice about looking after teeth is to brush for no less than two minutes. To help you stick to the habit, do a mental count or play a 2-minute song while you brush.
4. Invest in Regular Dental Cleaning
The estimated global economic burden of tooth decay is $245 billion. About two-thirds of that amount goes toward direct treatment costs. Indirect productivity losses then account for the rest.
Tooth decay can cause productivity losses as it can result in severe pain. In addition, the teeth and gums may even become infected, requiring complex surgeries. Such invasive procedures, in turn, can force a patient to take a day or two off of school or work.
Fortunately, you can prevent such problems by getting routine dental prophylaxis. This deep-cleaning procedure removes plaque and tartar from the teeth. It’s also in that way that it helps halt the progression of gum disease.
5. Practice Proper Hydration
Fluoride, a mineral present in the bones and teeth, is also in tap water. Drinking fluoridated water, in turn, can reduce tooth decay risks by at least 25%. That’s because this mineral helps remineralize the tooth enamel.
For that reason, one of the top tips to care for your teeth is to drink at least two liters of clean tap water each day.
Besides, staying hydrated also helps moisten your mouth, preventing it from becoming dry. You don’t want to have a dry mouth since that can raise your risks for tooth decay and even infections.
Follow These Teeth Care Tips to Keep Your Pearly Whites Healthy
As you can see, proper teeth care doesn’t have to be complex, nor should it be expensive. On the contrary, flossing and brushing at least twice a day can help keep costlier oral problems at bay. The same is true if you limit your intake of pricey sugary drinks.
So, as early as today, give all our teeth care advice a well-deserved try.
If you’re looking for more health and wellness tips, we got you covered. Check out our recent blog posts for other educational guides!
