Your dentist in Atlanta provides you with the important treatment options you need to stay healthy. However, it’s important to care for your teeth every day — not just every six months when you come in for regular checkups.
Taking care of your teeth through oral hygiene, diet, and other factors doesn’t have to be a hassle. These simple tips from a top dentist in Atlanta can help you maintain your oral health and prevent a wide range of future dental issues with ease.
Make Sure You Aren’t Brushing Too Hard
While most people are more likely to suffer from a lack of brushing enthusiasm, some may be overdoing it. Excessively vigorous brushing can wear down your teeth over time. Instead of brushing hard, focus on brushing for at least two minutes for complete coverage.
The brush itself also comes into play. Brushes vary in how coarse and hard their bristles are. A very hard-bristled brush can damage your teeth. While you may not need a specialty soft-bristled brush, avoid low-quality brushes that are often too coarse.
Don’t Overlook the Importance of Flossing
Everybody knows that flossing is something they should be doing. But many people avoid flossing because they think it takes so much longer than brushing.
However, skipping flossing can be as big of a mistake as chewing on ice cubes. It plays an important role in dislodging bits of food and removing bacteria from between your teeth.
Any food in those crevices can greatly accelerate tooth decay by letting bacteria thrive all day long. Make sure you floss at least once each day — no matter how tiresome it may seem.
Eating a Healthy Diet
There are plenty of foods you can avoid to help promote healthy teeth. Excessively sugary sweets and acidic foods and drinks, while delicious, are best avoided for your oral health. However, there are also positive choices that you can add to your diet to help support strong teeth.
Of course, dairy products are a top pick due to their calcium, along with many products containing added vitamin D. Coarse foods with plenty of natural fibers like carrots, celery, apples, and others even help naturally clean teeth — although they’re no substitute for brushing.
Start Your Children with a Solid Foundation
Taking care of your own teeth is tricky enough, but doing so for your children can be even more difficult. Keeping up with routine dental visits from the very start can help give your children a great foundation for long-term oral health.
Your child should come in for their first visit when their first tooth emerges or by their first birthday. From that point, you should bring them in for a dental exam and teeth cleaning every six months — just like patients of any age. Monitoring development and familiarizing your child with oral health can save them a lot of trouble in the long run.
Take Care of Your Toothbrush
Do you simply set your toothbrush down on the edge of the sink after brushing? If so, you could be letting bacteria grow and spread. You want your toothbrush clean when you brush your teeth, so there are a few things you can do to take care of it.
First, simply rinse the brush with warm water to remove food debris and other contaminants after brushing. Store it standing vertically, not touching any surfaces — or other toothbrushes.
Rinse After Eating
Any dentist in Atlanta can tell you that rinsing out your mouth or just drinking a nice glass of water after eating can help reduce the risk of tooth decay. The bacteria that cause tooth decay rely on the food you eat, and they have more access to it if bits stick to your teeth. Rinsing removes more of those bits, helping manage bacteria levels.
If you’re going to brush at every mealtime, brush before eating — not after. The bacteria produce acid once you start eating, which can weaken enamel. This means that your teeth are most vulnerable right after eating, so brushing at that time could cause unnecessary wear.
Visit Your Dentist in Atlanta Every Six Months
One of the most important elements of maintaining your oral health is visiting the dentist in Atlanta for an exam and teeth cleaning every six months. This not only helps fight tooth decay and gum disease, but also ensures that we discover any potential issues in time for effective treatment.
At Dental Implant and Aesthetic Specialists of Atlanta, Dr. Brett Langston provides routine dental care and a wide range of restorative and cosmetic procedures. You can make us your dentist in Atlanta to meet all of your needs under one roof. Reach out today to schedule your appointment.