Your teeth are one of the most important body parts you need to take care of every day. Oral hygiene is essential to keep your teeth and gums healthy. You need to develop habits that can prevent any oral issues and diseases.

There is an association between the health of your teeth and your overall health. You need to consider your oral health problems to avoid making them a health burden. Read on to learn more on how to have healthy teeth.

1. Brush Twice a Day

The first healthy habit that you should never break is brushing your teeth regularly. Brushing every day is essential in keeping healthy teeth. You should take about two minutes to clean your teeth thoroughly.

Be gentle while brushing your teeth while going in circular motions with medium force to remove the plaque. This can harden if left alone, which can lead to gingivitis and calculus buildup. Make sure that you also clean your tongue since it harbors plenty of bacteria.

Avoid brushing your teeth with back and forth motions. Be sure that you also pick the right toothbrush for your teeth. Brushing with hard-bristled toothbrushes can damage your gums and tooth enamel.

2. Use Enough Fluoride

Fluoride is an ingredient in mouthwash and toothpaste that can prevent cavities. It is a natural part of our diet responsible for finding patches of decay in your dental enamel. Lack of fluoride can lead to tooth decay, even if you take care of your teeth.

Fluoride helps you fight against the germs in your mouth and teeth. It also gives a protective barrier for your teeth for a few hours. Don’t give fluoridated products to children since it can cause teeth discoloration.

3. Don’t Forget to Floss

Brushing doesn’t entirely remove the bacteria and plaque between your teeth. Flossing at least once a day prevents bad breath by removing all the food stuck on your teeth. Make sure that you’re gentle when flossing.

Avoid snapping the floss onto your gums. Instead, guide the floss between your teeth with a gentle motion. Gently rub the side of your tooth with an up and down motion. Other than handle floss, there are also interdental cleaners, such as pre-threaded flosser or dental pick.

4. Check In With Your Dentist

One of the best ways on how to have healthy teeth is by visiting your family dentist every once in a while. Both children and adults need to visit the dentist every six months. Your everyday habits are the factors that affect your oral health.

It would be best if you visited your dentist at least two times every year. The dentist will tell you if you have any problem with your daily oral care. They will also recommend ways you can improve your habits to maintain your healthy teeth.

Save your teeth and educate yourself with proper healthy dental hygiene by visiting your dentist. Dentists have the tools to deep clean your teeth and correct dental issues. If you have a dental problem, be sure to head to your dentist immediately.

5. Avoid Eating Too Many Sugary Foods

Sugary foods taste delicious, but it comes with a price for your oral health. Sugar gets converted into acid when it’s in your mouth, which affects the enamel by eroding it. Try to limit your sugar intake to at least below 10% of your daily calories.

You need not avoid all sugary drinks and foods altogether, but you need to be mindful. Instead, you can eat plenty of fiber-rich vegetables and fruits. Go for the crunchy types to keep your jaws strong and mouth healthy.

6. Drink Plenty of Water

Most of the drinks we have consist of added sugars, such as coffee, juice, and sodas. What you need is water to replace all the carbonated and sugary beverages. Coffee and tea can affect the color of your teeth, leading to discoloration.

Juice and soda contain plenty of unwanted sugars and acids that can break your dental enamel. To improve your oral health, you need to drink a lot of plain water as much as possible. Water can rinse away the food particles and debris.

You can drink sweetened drinks only during meal times and in small volumes. Drinking water regularly will not stain or degrade your teeth. On average, you should try to drink at least six cups of water every day.

7. Wait Before Brushing

Once you’ve finished eating or drinking something, don’t rush to brush your teeth. After consuming foods and beverages, there are some acid and sugary leftovers. They stay atop your teeth and weakens the surface of your teeth.

When you brush, your toothbrush will help spread the sugar and acid around your mouth. Wait at least 30 minutes to one hour before brushing your teeth. This will give your teeth some time to remove all the sugar and acid.

8. Lessen Smoking

Smoking can become a habit that harms your immune system. Not only will it harm your health, but it will also make it hard for your body to heal your tissues, including those in your mouth. Regularly smoking can affect the appearance of your mouth and lead to discoloration.

The chemicals in cigarettes can affect your saliva flow, making it easier for bacteria to stick to your gums and saliva. There is a higher chance for you to produce bacterial plaque, where gums no longer heal. Smoking also increases your chances of getting gum diseases and dry mouth.

E-cigarettes can also cause your teeth to weaken. The vapor in e-cigarettes still contains nicotine along with other chemicals and heavy metals. The nicotine can damage your gum tissue, which results in receding gums, bad breath, and tooth loss.

How to Have Healthy Teeth

Now that you know how to have healthy teeth, it’s time to integrate these into your daily habit. Start flossing every day and drink plenty of water. Avoid eating too many sugary foods and drinks as well as lessen your smoking.

Live a healthy life with healthy teeth! If you want to know more habits that you should change or keep, check out our other posts to learn all you can!