Do’s and Don’ts of Healthy Teeth

Posted .

Dental office in Marriottsville, MD

Of course the key to a beautiful smile is caring for your teeth on a regular basis, but how?!

Well, first off, you should listen to your dentist. You may not realize it, what we tell you is for the purpose of giving you that happy healthy smile you’re proud to let shine. As we’ve said before, proper dental care isn’t just about keeping your teeth healthy, but keeping your whole body healthy. But sometimes that motivating factor isn’t just the health, it’s about having that perfect gleaming white straight smile, so while this list will help you keep a healthy body and smile it will also make your teeth gleamingly beautiful.

HOW TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY TEETH:

  • DO keep your regular dental appointments. Teeth cleanings and checkups are essential. A professional cleaning takes care of problems before they start, and it’s always good to have someone who knows what they’re doing take a close look at your mouth health.
  • DO floss daily. Two times a day is even better. Food can get between your teeth, and a toothbrush doesn’t always cut it to clear that out. You can floss after brushing or before, but you definitely want to do it.
  • DO brush twice a day. For two minutes, twice a day, brush to reach peak toothy cleanliness. After eating sugary foods it’s pivotal, because the sugar on your teeth eats away at the enamel and can even cause cavities.
  • DON’T brush too hard. Brushing too hard or using a brush that is too stiff scratches the enamel on your teeth, and over time it can rub down your enamel. It can also damage your gums, and damaged gums can hurt your teeth and your smile.
  • DON’T stick things in your mouth. It looks silly. But also, it’s not healthy for your teeth. It can scratch and damage your tooth enamel.
  • DON’T bite your nails. See above about sticking things in your mouth. They may be your nails, but they can still damage your teeth (and your fingers).
  • DON’T use your mouth to open things. If you really want to maintain the integrity of your teeth, don’t use them like a tool. Biting into bags or bottle tops to try to pry or tear them open can damage your enamel and gums
  • DON’T drink coffee, tea, or soda. This is a tough one to swallow. These drinks are addictive and desirable, but they can discolor your teeth and even eat away at your enamel or cause cavities (especially the sugary drinks).
  • DON’T grind your teeth. Grinding your teeth can be really bad for them. Doing this enough will cause your teeth to chip and crack, not a good look. A mouthguard can protect your teeth from grinding at night, you can even get custom ones made.