Top Ways To Take Care of Your Teeth Between Visits

by Kyle O'Brien

More often than not, we all leave a dentist’s office knowing we’ve been bad.  We haven’t flossed enough, brushed more than once a day, vigorously used mouthwash, watched what kind of foods we eat and so on.

There’s a reason that dentists recommend a visit to the office every 6 months: it’s because stubbornness or forgetfulness creeps into our dental hygiene psyche.  So, rather than wish upon a cavity or root canal, here’s a list of ways to make your teeth both stronger and whiter and keep the general dentistry side of things in check.

1.  Your Teeth Are What You Eat:  If you’re a soda fan or eat 7 apples a day, your teeth more than likely will not appreciate it.  If soda’s great for shining up a penny, think what it’ll do to the enamel of your teeth if left untouched.  The more acidic substances that hang around, the more likely you are to expose your defenses to stains and/or bacteria formation.  Which is why the solution’s simple:  tone down the soda intake or cleanse your teeth with a glass of water after each acidic food or drink.

2.  Update Your Accessories: Speaking of bacteria growth, if you’re still holding on to a 2-year old toothbrush, you’re probably housing bacteria, as well.  Update your toothbrush every 4 or 5 months or sooner if the bristles are softer than usual or stained.  And if you own the electric kind, invest in backup heads.  You want your teeth and gums to feel the brunt of new bristles because that’s what a good cleaning demands.

3.  Use Quality Mouthwash/Toothpaste:  If there’s one instance where you shouldn’t buy generic, it’s this.  Buying up on higher-end mouthwash and toothpaste - if it means higher-quality additives and defenses - should be on everyone’s list.  Toothpastes with whitening and baking soda ingredients or mouthwash with mineral restoration and enamel strengthening, things of that nature.

4.  Quit Smoking:  If you’re a regular smoker and wonder why your teeth are more yellow than usual, it’s probably because of the tar and staining additives.  Cigarettes are high on the list of harmful things to do to your teeth and gums because for one, they can dry out your gums and teeth, let alone stain them.  So, if you really want those pearly whites, it might be time to curb your habit or at least cleanse your teeth with gum or water after each cigarette, so as to keep the saliva in your mouth running at an optimal pace.

5.  Stay The Course:  Keeping in line with brushing and flossing every day is the most important - and obvious - task on this list.  Making sure to brush right when you wake up and before you go to bed is par for the course.  And before you brush your teeth at night, make sure to floss away food particles lodged deep between the gaps of your teeth or up around the gums.  As for those who despise flossing, it’s okay to do it every other night, but make sure that’s the farthest gap you allow.

And with these tips, hopefully your dentist begins to take notice the next go-around.  Not only are these good for beefing up your discipline, but who knows, it might save you a few financial (and painful) headaches from fillings, root canals, or something much worse.

About The Author:  Kyle is a consultant for a cosmetic dentist in Independence and has published other dental hygiene articles on other blogs and contributed to dental care discussions.

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