A smile is a good accessory as any other. But you need to know how to keep your smile shiny and bright. This means taking care of your teeth and making sure that you get sufficient nutrition to keep them strong and healthy. There is nothing complicated about keeping your teeth strong and clean. All you need to do is follow a simple set of practices.
It is best to teach your children about proper oral care from a young age. This will minimise the number of trips to the dental clinic as well. You should start dental care when the first tooth appears. This is generally when the baby is six months old. You can wipe the teeth with a very soft brush or a damp cloth. You can teeth the kids to brush their own teeth by the time they are two under your supervision. This will become a habit that will continue on to their adult lives. It is important to brush twice a day and floss once a day. Your toothbrush should be change at least 3 or 4 times a year. You can use an antibacterial rinse to rinse your mouth after meals. This can help prevent tooth decay. Saliva is natural protection against bacteria. You can increase your flow of saliva after a meal by chewing sugar-free gum. You need to avoid bad habits such as smoking. Tobacco can stain your teeth and increase your risks of getting oral cancer or gum disease. There are also activities that can pose risks to your teeth such as roller-blading and skate-boarding. It is better to protect your teeth by using a mouthpiece when you’re engaged in those activities. You can ask your dentist for a customised mouth guard if you’re frequently engaged in activities that might injure your teeth.
Some of the other services provided by dentists are teeth whitening, veneers, root canal therapy and preventative care. You should also have a balanced diet which includes dairy products, fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Sugary foods are to be avoided. You can limit the amount of sugary food consumed by your children. The sugar will be broken down in your mouth by bacteria which leads to the production of acid that can erode the tooth enamel. Therefore, beverages such as carbonated drinks, coffee and alcohol should be limited. You can start by keeping healthy snacks in your house for children such as nuts, fresh fruits etc. Try to limit the number of sugary food items in your house. This will be able to minimise your children’s sugar intake.