Managing your own oral health care plan requires more than simple teeth brushing on a nightly basis. To maintain a healthy mouth with teeth that shine and strong healthy gums takes effort. There’s several steps you can take to improve your oral health through a regular oral hygiene regimen beyond just the following obvious answers:
- Brushing
- Flossing
- Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables
Step 1: Take into account your own oral health needs.
It’s important to talk to your dentist about your specific health issues, personal and family medical history, and lifestyle to determine your best course of action to maintaining or regaining a healthy oral status. For example, pregnancy, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer treatments can all affect your oral care plan.
Step 2: Develop and follow a healthy routine.
Depending upon your personal healthcare needs, we can offer a recommendation at your next dental exam to determine your best course of action in regards to your oral health and hygiene. We’ll make sure that you know the best way to stay healthy even if you have pre-existing medical conditions.
Step 3: Use fluoride
Fluoride toothpastes are a must. We wrote an article on how much fluoride toothpaste impacts your oral health. Please check it out if you have questions.
Step 4: Brush, Floss, and Rinse. Don’t sse mouthwash.
It’s still important to brush and floss at least twice a day unless we recommend otherwise for your specific case. Many mouthwashes contain alcohol that can cause more problems than it helps by drying out your mouth and creating a better place for bacteria to thrive. If you want to use a mouthwash, ask your dentist or hygienist at your next appointment and we’ll offer a good recommendation.
5. Step 5: Eat health, reduce snacking.
Your diet needs to consist of healthy low-sugar fruits and plenty of vegetables. Obviously grains and healthy proteins are important as well, but most of us get plenty of those in our diet. Try to avoid sugary drinks and snacks that cause even more damage to your gums and teeth.
Step 6: If you smoke, quit now.
Smoking is probably the worst thing you can do for your teeth. If you currently smoke, stop as quickly as you can.
Step 7: Exam your mouth regularly
Know the inside of your mouth, signs of decay, toothaches, bumps, discolorations, etc. so that if something abnormal appears or becomes noticeable, you can schedule an appointment to get the care you need quickly.
Step 8: Visit your Keller TX Dentist
Most people receive the maximum benefit from visiting the dentist by going twice a year. For most that’s sufficient. Depending on certain health concerns you may need to stop by more often for a dental exam. Give us a call to schedule your first appointment today!
