6 Secrets to Healthy Teeth and a Beautiful Smile

Having a beautiful smile and healthy teeth isn’t an elusive goal or purely the result of great genes. Like a good diet and regular exercise contribute to physical fitness, taking care of your teeth helps you maintain healthy gums and a good-looking smile. Furthermore, regular brushing and flossing are a great start, but they’re only the beginning. What we do every day helps determine our overall oral health. Here are six secrets to maintaining a winning smile daily.

1. See Your Dentist More

If you are like many Cincinnati residents, you probably aren’t seeing your dentist often enough. Most patients should have six-month checkups and cleanings. Some should even do so every 90 days. Most dental insurance plans cover preventive dentistry in your area. If you’re not stopping in, you’re wasting your benefits!

If you aren’t making regular dental visits because of the pain or discomfort, you’re probably seeing the wrong dentist. Pain relief in dentistry has advanced significantly over the past several years, and there’s never been a better time for comfortable and stress-free dental care. Aside from the initial pinch from the numbing agent for a cavity filling, there really shouldn’t be any discomfort. If there is, either your dentist isn’t using enough numbing medication, or they aren’t utilizing the latest advancements in dental anesthesia.

It’s worth going to a Cincinnati dentist committed to the practice of gentle dentistry. The more effort your provider puts toward making you calm and comfortable, the more likely you are to follow through on treatment, and the healthier your smile will be.

2. Soda is Not Your Friend

Soda has excessive amounts of sugar — 8 to 10 teaspoons per glass. Would you eat a bowl of sugar at your next meal? Would you let your kids? That’s practically what you’re doing when you drink too much soda!

In addition to sugar, soda contains phosphoric and citric acids, which eat away at the enamel on your teeth.

You don’t necessarily have to quit soda completely. An occasional drink on special occasions won’t hurt. But when it’s a habit, the amount of dental care you’ll eventually need could fund your local family dental provider’s next car purchase!

Children should also limit juice consumption. Though not quite as bad as soda, juice contains a high amount of sugar and acidity that’s bad for your teeth. Stick to milk or water as your beverage of choice.

3. Ditch the Cigarettes For Good

You know smoking is bad for your lungs. It’s an undeniable fact. But did you know how harmful it is to your teeth? Yes, cigarettes can make your teeth yellow, but they also eat away at your gums and provide an optimal habitat for bacteria that cause cavities. Smoking also breaks down tissue and bone that support teeth, which can cause your teeth to fall out. There’s also the heightened risk of oral cancers to consider.

4. Don’t Wait Until It Hurts

Did you know that for most of their development, cavities are completely painless? It’s not until they go deep enough to strike a nerve that they hurt, and then you’re probably looking at a root canal from your Cincinnati family dentist. Gum disease, too, can be a long-time, quiet lurker. It only starts to hurt once a serious infection kicks in, or the gums have worn away to the bone.

Don’t wait until you’re in pain or your tooth is throbbing to call us. By then, the damage is usually severe. Yes, dental emergencies do happen, but regular visits to your dentist are the best way to prevent most of these issues ahead of time. It’s healthier for your mouth and more budget-friendly.

5. Drink More Water

Water is good for your health and beneficial for your mouth. Staying hydrated with water can improve mental focus, enhance overall well-being, and support weight loss. It also provides dental benefits by naturally rinsing the mouth of food and sugars, minimizing the bacteria that cause cavities. Always drink water, not only during meals, but also afterwards.

6. Eat More Veggies

Fruits and veggies are good for your mouth as well as your overall well-being. The general rule is the crunchier the better. Crunchy veggies contain healthy fiber and also help strengthen the jaw. Don’t worry so much about cutting them into bite-sized pieces. Give those jaws a workout!