Tips for maintaining great dental hygiene and a healthy smile
At Life Smiles Dental Care in Phoenix, Arizona, keeping our patients’ smiles healthy is our number one priority. With comprehensive preventive care and a good dental hygiene routine at home, you can prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and many other oral health problems before they start. Read on for our top tips on maintaining a healthy smile!
Brush after every meal, or at least twice per day
Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste with the ADA seal of acceptance, brush all surfaces of your teeth for at least two minutes after every meal. Regular brushing helps clean plaque, food debris, and bacteria off your teeth and prevents tartar from hardening onto your teeth.
Floss every day
Brushing is great for cleaning the easy-to-access surfaces of your teeth, but flossing is equally important for your oral health because it cleans the hard-to-reach areas between your teeth and gums. String floss, water flossers, and a variety of other interdental cleaners are all effective options. If you aren’t sure which type to use, we are happy to help you determine which one will work best for your needs and preferences.
Eat a healthy diet
Disease-causing bacteria feast on the sugars and starches left on your teeth by foods and beverages, such as soda, sweets, and bread. Conversely, snacking on crunchy fruits and vegetables helps clean your teeth while also being great for your body! Examples of healthy foods and beverages that are great for your teeth include:
- Water
- Carrots
- Apples
- Celery
- Pears
- Nuts
Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and checkups
Routine dental cleanings and checkups are the cornerstones of our practice. With two short visits to the dentist per year to have your teeth professionally cleaned and examined, you will not only have a fresher, cleaner smile, but you can also avoid many oral health problems. If you develop an oral health issue, catching it early on at a checkup will help prevent it from developing into a more painful, costly, and time-consuming problem down the road.
To schedule your routine dental visit at Life Smiles Dental Care, call our Phoenix, AZ office today at (602) 786-5484. We are always welcoming new patients to our dental family and look forward to taking care of your smile.
