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Having healthy teeth means committing yourself to a lifetime of care. Even if you have a perfect set of teeth, it’s essential to take care of them and prevent any dental problems. This involves buying the right oral care products and strictly following your daily oral hygiene habits.

Brushing and Flossing

It’s important to brush and floss your teeth every day. This helps to remove plaque and prevent cavities. Brushing and flossing at home are the most important things you can do to keep your teeth healthy. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Brush your teeth thoroughly for at least two minutes. Make sure you brush every surface of every tooth. Brushing your teeth should take at least two minutes. This gives you enough time to clean your teeth properly.

Mouthwash

There are different types of mouthwashes, including therapeutic mouthwashes, cosmetic mouthwashes, and prescription mouthwashes. Therapeutic mouthwashes contain fluoride to help strengthen your teeth. Cosmetic mouthwashes help freshen your breath. Prescription mouthwashes may be used to help treat and prevent gum disease. Consult your dentist to choose the right one for you.

Regular Dental Checkups

Brushing your teeth every day is essential for your oral health. But daily brushing isn’t enough – you also need to see your dentist every six months for a professional cleaning and dental checkup.

Avoiding Tobacco and Smoking

Tobacco products and smoking are some of the most dangerous things you can do to your teeth. In addition to staining your teeth, causing bad breath, and increasing your risk for oral cancers, smoking and chewing tobacco also wear away at your dental enamel, causing teeth to become weaker and more vulnerable to decay.

Eating a Proper Diet

Your diet has a big impact on your oral health. Eating certain foods can cause tooth decay, cavities, or gum disease. The following foods are all considered bad for your teeth.

Sugary foods: Bacteria in your mouth use sugar to produce acid that wears away at your teeth.

Sticky foods: Foods that get stuck in your teeth can cause tooth decay.

Dried fruit: The sugar in dried fruit sticks to your teeth and causes decay.

Starchy foods: Starchy foods, like potato chips, bread, and crackers, can stick to your teeth and break down into sugar, causing decay.

Sauces: Sauces, like barbecue sauce or ketchup, contain a lot of sugar, which can cause decay.

Coffee/ Tea: Coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages can stain your teeth.

Rivermark Dental at Santa Clara is happy to educate and provide exceptional dental treatments to the community. Please schedule an appointment online or call us at 408-988-7788 to have a consultation with our dentist, and we will be happy to assist you further.