5 Dental Hygiene Tips for a Healthy, White Smile

One of the first things we notice about people is their appearance, and a beautiful, healthy smile is something that most of us find immediately attractive and appealing. However, as we age it is only natural for our teeth to suffer from all manner of issues. These could include yellowing, staining, cavities, tooth decay, and even tooth loss. And although there are certainly ways to deal with these problems after the fact, it’s obviously preferable to prevent damage if at all possible. The best way to do this is by practicing proper dental hygiene. Here are just a few tips that should help you to keep your teeth in good condition as long as possible, preserving your healthy, white smile in the process.

1. Skip the soda. You’ve no doubt heard the expression “you are what you eat”, and the truth is that the food and beverages you consume can show in your smile. In case you didn’t know, sodas are perhaps the worst enemies of healthy teeth. Not only do they contain chemical dyes that can stain your teeth over time, but they’re packed with sugar that erodes enamel, leaving your teeth susceptible to attack from bacteria and other elements. Coffee, tea, and food dyes should all be avoided if you want your teeth to remain bright and white. But sugar can do far more damage and should be avoided as much as possible.
2. Chow on cheddar. Just as there are tons of foods out there that can harm your teeth, there are also items in your fridge and pantry that can help to strengthen and protect your chompers. Dairy products that contain abundant calcium are perhaps the best things you can eat and drink on behalf of your teeth. And cheese, in particular, helps to balance the pH in your mouth, reducing acidity from other foods (sugary sodas, for example) that can damage your teeth.
3. Don’t just brush; floss and rinse. We all know that we should brush our teeth after every meal, or at least twice a day if we can’t sneak it in after lunch. But the place where most of us fail when it comes to dental hygiene is flossing and rinsing. We think that if we brush enough we won’t need these extras. Unfortunately, your tooth brush simply can’t get between teeth and below the gumline like flossing can, and your toothpaste isn’t equipped to kill bacteria the way mouthwash does. So you really need to add these steps to your daily regimen if you want to promote the best oral health.
4. Use a complete-care toothpaste. Your teeth are under attack from many different elements, so if you want to keep them healthy and maintain a white smile at the same time, a complete-care toothpaste is a great solution. These products clean teeth, fight cavities and gingivitis, prevent plaque and tartar buildup, and even whiten your smile. So why would you bother with a cleaning agent that lacks any of these properties?
5. See your dentist regularly. No matter how hard you try to keep your teeth clean and healthy, you cannot do it as well as a trained professional. So make an appointment, recline in a comfort dental lounge, and let your dentist do his job every six months. If your oral health and your beautiful, white smile are important to you, then practicing proper dental hygiene is essential to maintaining them. And that means doing what you can on your own and letting your dentist do the rest.