As a dentist, we are often asked for different ways people can help boost their dental and oral health. This is a natural question, given that most people do not like spending a great deal of time at the dentist. While we definitely have a few ideas on the subject, it stands to reason that many of the things we would suggest are what you might expect to do on a normal basis anyway.
For a dentist office, like most medical professionals, having a routine and making sure you do things that are preventive in nature is the best way for you to maintain the best oral health possible in your life. There is no silver bullet, but we do recommend that you do simple things like brushing your teeth at least twice a day, come in to see your dentist at least two times each year, and use products like floss and mouthwash.
There are many different reasons why you need to have a good oral health routine, and if you want to avoid having to come to the dentist on a regular basis for more serious procedures, then you definitely want to try these three simple recommendations. However, if you're looking for a bit more, we looked at a few other things that could help boost your oral health.
As any dentist will tell you, one of the easiest ways to help avoid tooth problems is to make sure you have a diet that is conducive to healthy teeth. This means you need to make sure you are avoiding foods that have a great amount of sugar or acid. Common foods in this category are products like soda, coffee and tea, all kinds of sugary treats, and energy drinks.
Certainly, these are not the only products that can damage your teeth. However, we find that patients who consume a great deal of these types of products tend to have more issues with their teeth. While there is no magic formula for avoiding certain types of foods, sugar does not need to remain on the teeth for long before causing problems. The sugar in food puts your natural mouth bacteria into hyperdrive, and this helps them create cavities and other problems you want to avoid.
Another simple recommendation that we will tell you is to make sure your toothbrush is in good working order. This means your toothbrush needs to not have any frayed bristles, needs to be neither too hard nor too soft, and if possible, you should be using an electric toothbrush. Any toothbrush over six months old is way too old and needs to be replaced immediately.
If you are using an electric toothbrush, then you need to replace the head every six months. This is one of the reasons why we recommend that you come in to see us at least twice a year. When you come in to see us for your six-month visit, we give you a reminder to replace your toothbrush, or toothbrush heads, by handing you a brand new toothbrush on your way out.
For more oral health tips or to schedule an appointment with Bruce Matson, DDS,request an appointment in our Houston dental office here: https://www.drbrucematson.com. Or call us at (713) 481-4626.
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