Tips to Keep Your Teeth Healthy at Home

The best practices for healthy teeth include flossing, brushing, rinsing with mouthwash, visiting the dentist and more.  If it seems like your teeth and gums require a lot of work, there are multiple solutions for what you can do to treat your teeth.

A clean and healthy mouth requires at least 20 minutes of attention every single day.  Here is a closer look at some of the best practices for healthy teeth and gums.

Tips for healthy teeth

Mind Your Toothbrush

The quality of your toothbrush, the length of your cleanings and the frequency of those cleanings all play important roles in the health and look of your teeth.  Do not use a toothbrush any longer than two or three months.  If you notice the bristles have worn, go ahead and replace the toothbrush.

Furthermore, the toothbrush head and bristles also matter.  Opt for soft bristles to prevent an abundance of pressure from impacting your tooth enamel and gums.  

Brush in a Strategic Manner

Do not simply move the toothbrush along the teeth and expect it to result in a thorough clean.  Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle with your gums.  Move the toothbrush in short circular motions instead of back and forth.  Do not press too hard when brushing.  Brush all of your teeth.  Do not forget to clean the backs and sides in addition to the fronts and tops of each tooth.

Finally, your brushing session will not be complete unless you brush your tongue, gums and the roof of your mouth.  This thorough brushing will eliminate bacteria that have the potential to lead to cavities and bad breath.

Healthy Teeth Require Healthy Foods

Certain foods clean the teeth while others are a direct threat to the health of chompers and gums.  Foods that are crisp or firm tend to clean teeth when chewed.  As an example, eating an apple or part of an apple following a meal or snack will help clean your teeth.  Other examples include celery and carrots.  Just be sure to make the healthy teeth-cleaning food the last in your meal/snacking session to ensure it has a chance to help cleanse your teeth.

Use Mouth Rinse

Using mouth rinse has become one of the best practices for healthy teeth.  The mouth rinse that you select should be alcohol-free to prevent a drying out of the oral tissues.  If your mouth is dry, it will be that much more vulnerable to bacteria.  Furthermore, using mouth rinse helps clean out bacteria and food particles in those small spaces of the mouth your toothbrush cannot reach.

The Best Practices for Healthy Teeth Include Visits To the Dentist

Do not assume you can maintain tooth health on your own.  The dentist's nuanced instruments are necessary to clean plaque and tartar off the teeth that a regular toothbrush cannot wipe away.  The dentist will check for indications of cavities, gum disease and oral cancer.  The dentist will also provide you with important guidance for improved oral health as time progresses.

Call us at (973) 676-2541 for more information from Roman Khodosh DDS PC or to schedule an appointment in our dentist office in East Orange.