Do you want a pearly-white, perfect smile? That means you have to protect and take care of your teeth. Brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist are a must - but there's more to it than that. We'll explain them all below.
1. Floss regularly
Other than brushing your teeth (and doing it right), flossing is the most important thing you can do for your smile. It feels very unpleasant at first - and that may be the reason why 1/3 of adults don't floss.It's time to change your habits if you're part of that 33%. There are places between your teeth you're not going to reach using a toothbrush, and that's where flossing gives you that extra push to achieve the perfect smile.Flossing the traditional way may not be for you. That's okay! There are alternatives, such as water flossing. Pick one and stick with it.2. Choose the right toothbrush
There are two things you need to do when picking up a toothbrush: choose a soft-bristled one and replace it often.First, you need to go the soft bristle way because your teeth are delicate. Going hard when you brush using a hard-bristled toothbrush will do more harm than good. You need to be soft and delicate - and your toothbrush should be the same.Second, regular replacements are a must. Your toothbrush wears out because you use it two or three times per day. A good rule of thumb is replacing your toothbrush when seasons change.3. Be gentle when you brush
Brushing your teeth seems like a simple thing to do - and it is if you know what you're doing. Plenty of people don't know the first thing about it. They grab their toothbrush and go to town. That's not what you want to do!First, you have to be gentle. Second, you have to brush one tooth at a time. Third, you have to spend at least two minutes doing it. And remember to brush the front and back of your teeth!A common sign of poor brushing technique is bleeding gums. Make sure you talk to your dentist if that sounds like something that happens to you.4. Wear a nightguard
We are living through stressful times. Everyone is going 100 miles per hour - and has a hard time going to sleep when it's bedtime. Sometimes, we take that daily stress into the night. That's how you end up grinding your teeth until the morning - even if you don't realise it!Do you suspect you're grinding your teeth during sleep? A night guard could make a night and day difference. Sure, teeth are durable - but they are not durable enough to take a beating eight hours every night.Using a nightguard when you sleep prevents you from grinding your teeth. That may save your smile!5. Think about a mouthguard too
Your teeth can take a beating while you sleep - but that's not the only place where that may happen. Accidents take place in every sport you can think of. That's when wearing a mouthguard could prevent something terrible from happening!It's not like you have to box to wear a mouthguard. If you do box, by all means, wear one. Any contact sport requires you to wear one - but you could do the same while doing other fun activities, such as soccer, basketball, and many more.Gymnasts also wear mouthguards if they want to be careful. So, it's not about other people hitting you alone!6. Drink more water - and less sugar
Sugar is the tooth killer. Everyone knows that! And that may be the reason why people are drinking less soda every year. We still have a long way to go - and you could do your part as well. Drink more water and try to cut soda altogether if you want to have the perfect smile.Building a case in favour of drinking water is not a hard thing to do. There are no downsides to it!In contrast, soda will bring you nothing but trouble. You don't have to be a dentist to know that much sugar will create enough cavities to cause you discomfort.7. Be mindful of what you chew
There are one too many terrible ideas when it comes to using your teeth. For example, using your mouth to open a package. Chewing ice is a terrible thing to do as well. Some people may even use their teeth to remove corks from bottles!Every single one of those things could end in disaster. You chip your tooth at best and lose it altogether at worst. Teeth are incredibly durable - but you shouldn't try your luck doing stuff like that.Pay attention to your food as well. Avoid forcing your way through food. If something is way too hard for you, drop it.8. Replace missing teeth as soon as possible
So, you're in a worst-case scenario. You lost a tooth doing something that right now doesn't matter. It's not the end of the world - but you have to act as if that were the case. Try to replace it as soon as you can.There's no need to panic! You will find plenty of alternatives to replace your missing tooth. There are implants, dentures, and other options for you to choose from. A reputable North York dentistry will help you with that.9. Schedule your next dental appointment soon
Few people in this world like going to the dentist. It's something you have to do whether you like it or not - if you want a perfect smile.Going to see the dentist twice per year could prevent major issues down the line. It's only a 30-minute ordeal that prevents life-long problems from happening.Unfortunately, a yearly visit will not cut it. Two is the bare minimum. And that doesn't take emergencies into account: if you feel something is up, contact your dentist right away. Teeth are way too precious to gamble them away by doing the wrong thing! Tagged in Basic Dental Care
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