5 Best At-home Practices For A Healthy Smile

Good oral hygiene habits help you keep your teeth healthy. Practicing good oral hygiene not only keeps your teeth looking and feeling great, but also prevents dental diseases and bad breath. Listed below are some common at-home practices to follow for good oral health.

Regular brushing

Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time is one of the best at-home practices for a beautiful smile! Plaque can begin forming on your teeth immediately after eating, so it’s important to brush away leftover food and debris as soon as possible. 

Don’t forget to change your toothbrush every three to four months to prevent bacteria from building up on the bristles and compromising your dental health.

Flossing your teeth

Brushing and flossing are the best ways to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, but many people brush only once a day or skip flossing altogether. However, brushing alone isn’t enough to fully clean the mouth and remove plaque buildup. The best at-home habit for a healthy smile is making sure you floss at least once a day. That’s important because brushing can only reach about 70 percent of the surface of teeth.

Plaque can build up between the teeth and along the gum line. Over time, this can cause inflammation and irritation of the gums, leading to gingivitis. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis. This is an advanced form of gum disease that can cause damage to the soft tissue and bone that support teeth. It can also cause tooth loss.

Flossing, on the other hand, can reach around 40 percent of the tooth’s surfaces. That’s why it’s so important to floss daily. In addition to brushing and flossing, make sure you schedule regular dental cleanings and checkups at your dentist’s office. These visits allow the dentist to clean thoroughly beneath the gum line and can help spot any signs of early disease before it becomes more serious.

Rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash

While brushing your teeth is a great habit to keep up, it’s not enough to remove plaque and bacteria that sit on your teeth and gums throughout the day. This is where an antibacterial mouthwash comes in! An antiseptic mouthwash can help kill off harmful oral bacteria and can freshen your breath for fresh breath all day long. Consider using an antibacterial mouthwash in addition to daily brushing and flossing for the best oral health possible.

Regular dental cleanings

We’ll work with you to establish a dental hygiene routine that will promote healthy teeth and gums. During your routine visit, one of our skilled hygienists will clean your teeth and give you tips for maintaining your at-home oral hygiene routine between visits.

Periodontal maintenance is very important to keep gums and teeth healthy. Professional cleaning and scaling will remove plaque and tartar buildup that cannot be removed by brushing and flossing alone. If left untreated, this buildup can compromise gum health and lead to problems such as gum disease or tooth decay. We recommend regular periodontal maintenance and examinations twice a year to prevent these problems from occurring and ensure your oral health is in tip-top shape!

Avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol use

Tobacco use is one of the most significant risk factors when it comes to tooth discoloration, gum disease, and even oral cancers. While some patients do experience only minor symptoms from tobacco use, such as bad breath and red tongue, others can develop more serious oral conditions. Not only can smoking or chewing tobacco leads to several oral health issues, but it can also lead to serious health concerns that impact the entire body. Excessive alcohol consumption is also a major risk factor when it comes to periodontal disease and tooth loss. To avoid these complications, it is best to avoid tobacco products and limit alcohol intake.

By maintaining a good oral hygiene routine at home that includes flossing at least once a day and seeing your dentist for regular cleanings, you can help your smile be healthy and bright for years to come.

If you are interested in learning more about our services, call Smyrna Dental Group in Smyrna, TN, at (615) 355-6800 to schedule an appointment with our dentists or request an appointment online.