Your journey to self-improvement should start with your dental routine. Everyone needs to maintain their teeth and gums so they last a lifetime, but bad habits might get in the way. This guide explains how you have only one week to better dental health if you make a few simple changes.
You don’t need to worry about expensive dental services to take care of your teeth. Use these tips while visiting your dentist twice a year and you’ll avoid costly diseases and repair procedures.
1. Avoid Sugary Foods
Dentists always advise that patients reduce or limit their sugar intake. Sweets cram sugar between your teeth and create the perfect environment for more plaque growth and cavities. Even when you find sugar-free replacements for your favorite foods, you’re still hurting your teeth with added sugars.
Many products contain added sugars because they ferment and preserve foods naturally, but they still increase your sugar intake. Read nutrition labels to ensure the added sugar content is zero grams so you don’t hurt your teeth without realizing it.
2. Let Your Teeth Rest
After eating your favorite acidic snacks, let your teeth rest before brushing them. Citrus foods, soda and wine are just a few common things you might enjoy that weaken your enamel on contact because of their pH content. If you wait at least 30 minutes after eating, your enamel has time to recover before taking on rough bristles and mouthwash.
3. Replace Your Toothbrush
Rinsing your toothbrush after every use isn’t enough to remove all the bacteria. It also doesn’t do anything for worn bristles that bend out of place. If you want one week to better dental health, you should practice good oral health by replacing your toothbrush every three months.
People who brush their teeth with more intense pressure might benefit from replacing their toothbrush even more frequently. The point is to maintain the brush’s shape so you effectively reach all the crevices around your teeth.
4. Brush in Circular Motions
Have you ever paused to consider how you brush your teeth? Sawing back and forth isn’t enough to get plaque buildup away from your gumline. Dentists recommend brushing in circular motions as an alternative brushing technique.
Clockwise and counterclockwise movements clean around difficult anatomy where floss can’t reach buildup. It also doesn’t require extra pressure, so it’s a sensible solution even for individuals with sensitive gums. You’ll feel the difference overnight if poor brushing habits cause sensitivity to water temperature and acidic foods.
5. Invest in Mouthwash
You might wonder why mouthwash is important if you brush and floss twice a day. It’s a critical part of getting better dental health because it kills bacteria on contact. Instead of hoping you remove bacterial pockets with bristles, you’ll guarantee a cleaner mouth by swishing mouthwash around for the recommended time frame. Add it to your flossing and brushing to round out a healthy dental care routine.
6. Create a Floss Reminder
Many people have a container of floss in the back of a bathroom drawer. You forget about it because it’s out of sight and because you’re tired after brushing your teeth. Falling asleep seems more appealing, especially when flossing is the last thing on your mind.
You’ll get one week to better dental health if you create daily flossing reminders or alarms. When the notification pops up on your phone or smart watch, you’ll start a healthy flossing habit that eventually won’t need those reminders.
7. Eat Foods That Whiten Teeth
Coffee and tea help people wake up, just like the occasional midday soda. They also stain your teeth, which might make you self conscious about smiling. Sometimes better dental health requires cosmetic improvements because you’ll take pride in your smile and feel more motivated to take care of it.
Even if you continue drinking liquids that discolor teeth, you can combat that part of your diet by eating foods that whiten tooth surfaces with every bite. You might already eat foods that have this special property, like:
- Cheese
- Broccoli
- Apples
Incorporating these foods into your diet will improve your daily nutrient intake and whiten your teeth naturally. When your body gets nutritious fuel, it can maintain itself better and fight bacteria that causes dental disease.
8. Find a Water Flosser
People with fixtures like braces or permanent retainers have to approach their dental health differently. Food and buildup center around the metal glued to your teeth. Even if you want to floss or brush carefully, the fixtures prevent you from cleaning between each tooth and possibly even along your gum line.
Water flossers can fix this issue. The high-pressure spray floods buildup away from your teeth where floss can’t reach. Talk with your dentist or orthodontist about the effectiveness of a water flosser with your particular fixtures to identify the best way to maintain your oral health without accidentally skipping certain areas of your mouth.
Get Better Dental Health This Week
Anyone can have one week to better dental health if they use tips like these. Avoiding added sugar, replacing your toothbrush regularly and using mouthwash are just a few ways to transform your daily oral care routine so you can celebrate during every dental check-up.
