Women's Life Link Be Well, Be Happy, Be YOU!
When you talk to someone face-to-face, the first thing they look at is your facial features, including your mouth. Whether you’re saying good morning or just passing someone on the street, your smile has the power to make someone’s day. One the other hand, a lack of a fresh smile can seem be cold and unwelcoming, causing the opposite feeling of disconnection. If you think of it this way, your smile is pretty darn important, enough so that following some oral care staples would serve you well. You owe it to yourself to feel confident and happy when you smile and connect with people.
Here are some of those oral care staples you want to do regularly!
Clean Your Teeth
Though brushing teeth with a standard toothbrush isn’t the only way to clean them, it is the easiest and most common. Some people don’t like the feeling of bristles, so they use other things like a washcloth to wipe teeth clean. This might seem unorthodox, but I had a friend who did this and her teeth were beautiful. I recommend choosing the method and tool that is the most comfortable for you. There are various levels of stiffness to toothbrushes, but my dentist has always recommended using a water system or soft type to minimize gum abrasion.
Because you eat so many different things every day, it’s important to clean them in the morning and night. Additionally, if you eat sugary foods like candy, you might want to add an extra brushing. Definitely, model this for your children, so they can adopt good oral hygiene habits, too.
Use Floss and Mouthwash
It’s important to floss your teeth at least once a day to to remove particles that can cause problems. Don’t assume that flossing any old way is OK for your oral health. I highly recommend asking your dentist or oral hygienist for instructions to get the best results. This is especially important for children, as they are more likely to either skip flossing or hurt their gums, being too rough. Additionally, using mouthwash also adds an extra protection from bacteria and bad odors.
Regular Dental Checks/Cleaning
Even though you do things every day to keep your teeth and gums in good shape, it’s important to have a good dentist. One reason is to make sure that you don’t have any problems that need attention right away. A standard dentist can also refer you to other specialists such as an orthodontist, periodontist, or one that does oral surgery. It’s best to visit your dentist once every six months for a checkup and good cleaning.
There are many things you can do to get and keep a beautiful smile. But using these oral care staples will certainly give you a good start. Things like teeth whitening, alignment, and other dental procedures are always an option, too. Talk to your dentist about the options that are specific to you. The important thing is to do the best you can to care for your teeth, so you can keep them as long as possible. Do also keep in mind that, even if you do all of these things, problems might still arise because of what you inherited from your parents. That said, be a good example for your family and make oral care a priority in your home no matter what. And, keep smiling!
