Keeping Your Teeth Healthy

You want to keep your teeth for your entire lifetime, so you need to make sure you are following a daily dental health checklist. That includes brushing your teeth daily and making sure to get a biannual dental evaluation at Compass Dental Group. Here, we talk about what you can do every day to help your teeth stay healthy.

Your Daily Dental Health Checklist

There are five things you should be doing every day to make sure your teeth are healthy.

1. Brush your teeth in the morning after breakfast. You should wait about an hour after eating to brush your teeth. This is because your mouth is working naturally to rid your mouth of acids and bacteria through your saliva. Brushing your teeth too soon after eating or drinking anything acidic, like soft drinks, citrus fruit or juice, can harm the enamel on your teeth. The acids in some food or beverages can temporarily weaken your tooth’s enamel, and brushing your teeth immediately after a meal can actually brush away some of the enamel. That is why dentists recommend waiting at least an hour after you eat before brushing your teeth.
2. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Being hydrated is important, not only for your dental health but your overall health as well. Water can help wash away bacteria and acids in your mouth. If you can’t brush your teeth after meals, rinsing your mouth with water can help to wash away some of the bacteria and acids that are left in your mouth. Water can also help neutralize and balance the pH of your saliva.
3. Brush your teeth before bed. Brushing a minimum of twice a day for at least two minutes each time is important for good dental health. But are you brushing your teeth correctly? Make sure you are using products recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA). Look for dental products with the ADA seal, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash. While brushing, use small, circular strokes, making sure to brush all surfaces of your teeth, including the tops and backs of the teeth.
4. Remember to floss. Flossing is also an important part of a healthy dental routine. At Compass Dental Group, we recommend flossing after you brush your teeth at night. This way, you can make sure you have removed any and all bits of food particles from between your teeth.
5. Use a mouthwash with fluoride. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that can help strengthen the enamel on your teeth. Rinsing your mouth out with mouthwash after flossing at night can help strengthen the enamel on your teeth, as well as reduce the bacteria that is in your mouth.

Following this checklist can help you maintain a healthy mouth and keep you on track with your dental health routine.

The Importance of Dental Health

Your dental health is important, not only for your teeth, but a good oral health routine can benefit your overall health too. Besides the checklist above, here are other things you can do to protect your dental health.

• Visit Compass Dental Group at least twice a year for biannual evaluations and a dental cleaning.
• Avoid tobacco products. If you are having trouble quitting, ask your dentist for advice and create a plan to help you quit using tobacco.
• Eat and drink healthy. A nutritious, balanced diet isn’t just good for your body—it’s good for your teeth too. Make sure to consume water throughout the day, and reach for crunchy vegetables for a snack; they act like nature’s toothbrushes, helping to sweep away bacteria in the mouth.
• If you experience dry mouth due to a medication you are taking, ask your doctor for alternatives. Otherwise, you’ll need to be conscious of staying hydrated, so your saliva can work to naturally balance the pH of your mouth.
• See your dentist immediately if you have any pain in your mouth or jaw. Any issues that are caught early have a better chance of being fixed quickly and relatively painlessly.

Remembering Preventative Care

Besides following a daily checklist of good dental health routines, it is important to visit Compass Dental Group at least twice a year. During your biannual evaluation, the dental team at Compass Dental Group will use dental X-rays to look for any hidden spots on your teeth that may be the start of a dental carrie or cavity. They will also perform a professional teeth polishing, which can make your teeth dazzling once again. If you haven’t seen us in a while, schedule your appointment today!