Five Daily Habits for Better Oral Health: Insights from a Dentist in Norwood Park, Chicago
Are you looking for ways to improve your dental hygiene? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Below, this dentist in Norwood Park, Chicago is going to discuss five habits you can incorporate into your daily routine to keep your mouth as healthy as possible.
Proper Brushing
Everyone brushes their teeth, but some do it better than others. Ideally, you should brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled brush for at least two minutes each time. To avoid damaging gum tissue, it’s recommended that you brush in a circular motion while only applying gentle pressure.
Did you know that plaque can also form on the surface of your tongue? Brushing your tongue every day not only enhances your overall dental health, but it will also help with bad breath or “halitosis”.
Proper Flossing
As any reputable dentist in Norwood Park, Chicago will tell you, flossing is just as important as brushing is. However, while many people brush their teeth every day, not everyone flosses quite as often.
Of course, simply flossing is not enough. It is important to floss using the proper technique. It’s important that you floss thoroughly on both sides of the tooth. Work the floss around each tooth in a “C” motion to clean the interdental areas that a toothbrush cannot reach.
Introduce Fluoride
Fluoride can be incredibly beneficial for your oral health. Fluoride helps prevent cavities by slowing the enamel breakdown and accelerating the rate of remineralization.
Your tooth enamel is unique in that it’s both hard and porous. As a result, plaque on the surface of your teeth can release acids that penetrate the pores of the enamel, causing it to break down from the inside. Cavities may eventually form is plaque is untreated.
We recommend using a fluoride-based mouthwash and toothpaste to incorporate fluoride into your dental hygiene. You can also visit your dentist in Norwood Park, Chicago for deep cleaning, which usually ends with a fluoride treatment.
Drinking tap water may also help. Fluoride is naturally present in tap water, which helps to strengthen your teeth.
Drink Plenty of Water
Water is essential for your body. It flushes out waste from your body, regulates body temperature, and helps your brain function, among other things. What you might not realize is that it has a positive effect on your smile as well.
Water keeps your mouth clean — every sip of water helps wash away excess food particles lodged in your teeth that cavity-causing bacteria are looking for.
Eat a Balanced Died
You’ve probably heard it from your doctor before, and now you’re about to hear it from your Norwood Park dentist — the food you eat will most certainly affect your teeth in one way or another.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are among the best foods for healthy teeth because of their high nutritional value, as well as the fact that they help remove plaque. There are also calcium-rich foods that help strengthen your teeth. These include poppyseeds, sesame, celery, and chia seeds; milk, cheese, and yogurt; sardines and canned salmon; beans and lentils; almonds; and leafy greens like spinach and kale.
Crunchy foods like apples, pears, carrots, or cucumbers stimulates saliva production, which, together with water, helps remove plaque-causing bacteria and food particles.
Schedule a Dental Exam with the Top-Rated Dentist in Norwood Park, Chicago
At Smile Innovations, we believe that good dental health is the steppingstone toward good overall health. If you want to improve your oral health, you should schedule a dental exam with the top-rated dentist in Norwood Park, Chicago: Dr. Gordon J, Ziols. To get started, contact us at (773) 763-1000 or email us at appointments@smileinnovationschicago.com.