17 Feb Smiling Healthy

Your smile is one of the first things that people notice about you. A healthy smile is not always achieved overnight but calls for a variety of methods to create and retain. Good oral care is more than just keeping your teeth white and your gums healthy, it is about keeping your whole body healthy. For instance, plaque buildup on your teeth might increase the risk for heart disease by triggering inflammation anywhere else in the body and, over time, atherosclerosis. Infections and gum disease may also mean that your blood sugar is too high, which is a symptom of diabetes. Bottom line is: you need to take care of your mouth and smile, and listed below are 3 tips that will help you achieve that.

1. Brushing

This is a no-brainer, but the frequency and technique you use to brush your teeth can really have an impact on your smile. Brushing three times a day after each meal is the simplest and easiest way to care for your dental health. Invest in quality fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristle toothbrush and carefully brush along all the surfaces of the teeth in a back and forth motion. Spend a whole two minutes brushing your teeth and avoid being too vigorous as it can strip your tooth enamel.

2. Cut Down on Teeth-staining Drinks

Drinks such as tea, coffee, and red wine are notorious for staining teeth. This is because these drinks can eventually discolor your tooth enamel, which will then need to be professionally polished off.

Drink through a straw, which will help reduce the stain and may also minimize the risk of tooth decay. Another tip is to rinse your mouth thoroughly right after consuming these dark drinks so that the liquid doesn’t sit on your teeth for too long.

3. Be Careful with Your Whitening Products

Depending on your needs, there are numerous whitening products available: rinses, gel pens, whitening strips, custom trays, OTC trays, and laser whitening. Though the options can be daunting, each type can have different benefits that assist you in targeting problem areas. While rinses and toothpastes are good for tea and coffee drinkers, gel pens are better suited to touching up small patches, such as a tooth that has moved back and thus collects more dirt. Laser whitening and custom trays offer professional whitening and bring the most dramatic results.

It can take some time before you start noticing changes, and while these changes don’t happen overnight, they are definitely worth the money, effort and time.