Aesthetic Family Dentistry believes in a holistic approach to everything we do. That means not only caring for your oral health, but also offering complementary treatments and advice on caring for your entire wellbeing.
As part of that commitment, we have collated some of our most useful tips for maintaining a healthy mouth. We hope they help!
Prevention is better than cure
Brushing after eating is the single best way to maintain good oral health. Not only does brushing remove debris from the mouth, it also removes plaque, bacteria and anything else that might be lurking there too.
Brushing at least twice a day is an excellent preventive measure and we cannot overstress its importance enough!
Flossing and/or water flossing is also important. Even the best toothbrushes on the market cannot get between your teeth to remove all food. That’s why all dentists, ourselves included, will always encourage flossing to ensure maximum oral health. We really do have your interests at heart!
You are what you eat
Junk food, soda and candy contain fat and/or sugar, which can cause tooth decay. Eating a healthy balanced diet not only helps your teeth but your overall health too. Try to eat a mix of protein, fruit, nuts and vegetables every day. Add meat and dairy if your lifestyle permits, although the latest evidence shows a raw green vegetarian diet as the healthiest.
Avoiding too many sweet foods will not only help prevent tooth decay, it also helps your body maintain sugar and energy levels throughout the day.
Control alcohol intake
There’s nothing wrong with having a beer after work or a glass of wine with dinner as long as consumption is kept under control. Not only does alcohol have a far-reaching impact on your health, it has also been linked with mouth cancer and attacks the outer surface of tooth enamel.
Alcohol also contains sugars that feed bacteria within your mouth that cause tooth decay.
Avoid foods that stain
To keep that beautiful white smile, try to avoid consuming too many drinks that stain teeth. Those drinks include coffee, tea and wine. Smoking also stains teeth as the tar and nicotine adheres to the enamel. Minimize or remove these tooth staining substances from your lifestyle to maximize that smile!
If you can’t help yourself and do drink a lot of coffee, we have a range of teeth whitening options for you to try. So while we do suggest healthy eating to help oral health, we do appreciate it is much easier said than done!
