Without question, a healthy smile starts with you! Our Chula Vista, CA dentist, Dr. Espinosa, along with his friendly staff are proud to provide our patients with high-quality dental care to help them maintain good oral health for life. Now that we’re starting a brand new year, it’s the ideal time to focus on improving and maintaining the health of our smiles. By taking good care of your teeth and gums, you are helping to keep your smile healthy and beautiful now and in the future. Here are a few tips for 2019 that can help put you on the road to having that attractive and healthy smile you both need and deserve.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene by Brushing and Flossing Regularly
One of the best ways to keep your smile healthy is to maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth regularly. You should plan on brushing and flossing at least 2 times per day. Because plaque is your teeth’s worst enemy, removing it is key. Brushing your teeth well and flossing after meals help removes plaque buildup. This is why you should consider taking your toothbrush and floss to work or school with you so you can clean your teeth after lunch. You could tuck your toothbrush, floss, and toothpaste inside a small zipped pouch, and then just sneak off to the bathroom to clean your teeth after eating.
Avoid Doing Things That Harm Your Teeth
Good oral health involves more than maintaining a regular brushing and flossing schedule. You also need to avoid doing things that can harm your teeth. One of the best ways to protect your teeth against bacteria that causes plaque is to avoid eating certain foods and snacks like caramels, jellybeans, and other candies that stick to the teeth. The worst candies for teeth are sour, chewy candies because of their high sugar and acidic content, so try to steer clear of those. It’s best to limit the number of carbonated beverages you drink as both diet and regular sodas contain phosphorous and carbonation that wears down tooth enamel. Even energy drinks and beverages like lemonade are harmful to teeth due to the acids and sugars in these beverages, so limit the consumption of these drinks as well.
See Your Dentist For Regular 6-Month Checkups
Even if your dental hygiene is great and you brush and floss your teeth well, it’s still important that you see your dentist every six months. In addition to checking your teeth for signs of decay during a routine dental exam, your dentist also will assess the overall health of your teeth and gums, as well as check for any indications that may point to problems like vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, or oral cancer. Remember that your dentist is an expert at preventing, evaluating, diagnosing and treating diseases & conditions of the mouth. It’s easy to put off going to the dentist, and especially if you don’t feel you have any real need to see a dentist. However, regular checkups are very important and a key aspect to keeping your smile healthy and bright!
Focus on Eating Healthier Meals and Snacks
Good nutrition is a very important part of good dental health. This is why you should focus on eating a well-balanced diet containing foods from all the major food groups. Instead of snacking on foods loaded with processed sugar, choose fresh fruits, berries, and raw veggies. Do remember that many fruits contain acids and sugars like oranges, tangerines, and grapefruits, so be sure to brush your teeth well after you enjoy a nice juicy piece of fruit.
Kick the Tobacco Habit
If you smoke or chew tobacco, you already know that the habit is not good for your health. Tobacco also plays a role in many oral health problems like bad breath, stained teeth, tooth loss, gum disease, and oral cancer. Make 2019 the year you kick your tobacco habit for good – you’ll feel much better if you do, plus you’ll be protecting your oral and whole body health as well! We wish all our patients a happy and prosperous 2019! If you would like to schedule an appointment with our Chula Vista dental practice, please give us a call at (619) 482-3264.
