Tips for Better Dental Health

 When it comes to your oral health, you should be doing everything that you can to ensure that your teeth stay at their best and brightest. Of course, everyone knows the basics of dental care like brushing twice a day, flossing, avoiding sugary snacks etc, but there are plenty of other things that you need to know as well.

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For bigger changes and treatments for you or your kids, you may well want to go to the professionals like teen orthodontics specialists. However, if you are looking for a few things that you can do by yourself, these are what we will be taking a closer look at in this article.

Angle the Brush Correctly 

First and foremost, when you are brushing your teeth, you need to ensure that the bristles are angled correctly. You should be aiming to get the head of the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line when you are cleaning both the inside and outside surfaces of your teeth.

Don’t Forget About Your Tongue

To make sure that you are really tackling any plaque and bacteria that has gathered on, around or under your tongue, you should be cleaning it on a daily basis. You can either use a toothbrush or a specialised tongue cleaner to do this. Some toothbrushes even come with a tongue cleaner on the opposite side to the bristles. The other advantage of cleaning your tongue on a daily basis is that it will help you to prevent bad breath.

Wear a Mouthguard for Physical Activity 

While sports are good for your body, they do present potential hazards to your mouth. If you want to take extra care of your teeth, it may be worth investing in a mouth guard yourself - particularly if you are planning on engaging in any ‘rougher’ physical activities. Even if it is not a team sport, there is always a chance you could trip into something and damage your mouth.

Don’t Use Mouthwash Straight After Brushing 

Hopefully, you are already using toothpaste which contains fluoride. But if you are using mouthwash right after you brush, it may not have had the chance to take full effect. So, you should aim to wait at least 15 minutes after you have brushed so that you have given the fluoride a chance to work its magic. 

Chew More

After eating or drinking (particularly sugary food), you could chew sugar-free gum to help protect your teeth and gums. An alternative solution is to finish off your meal with a cube of cheese which plays a part in reducing the effects of acid on your teeth.

Get Out in the Sun

You may not have automatically thought of stepping outside into the sunlight as a way to improve your oral health, but the vitamin D that you receive from the sun helps to keep both your teeth and your gums strong and healthy.

Seal Off Your Back Teeth

The back teeth are often prone to problems as they are harder to reach and so you often don’t brush them as well as you can. To help protect them, you could apply a thin protective coating known as a sealant which is designed to prevent both decay and cavities. Taking an extra precaution like this can make all the difference in the long run.

Avoid Bad Habits

There are plenty of bad habits which can have a detrimental effect on your dental health. For example, excessive nail biting can end up causing hard to both your teeth and your gums. Similarly, grinding or clenching your teeth is something which you should get out of. The last thing that you want is to have an improper bite or crooked teeth. While brushing on a regular basis is important, you don’t want to brush too hard as this can wear away the protective enamel on your teeth. Avoid putting your teeth through any trials that you don’t really need to. If you are the kind of person who crunches on ice whenever you have a drink or use your teeth as a bottle opener, these are two habits which you really need to get out of. Finally, people tend to eat a huge amount more sugar than they need on a daily basis, so if you can cut out some drinks or snacks from your life, your mouth will thank you for it.

So, there you have just a few of the things that you can do (beyond the obvious) to improve your dental health.