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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Everyone wants a healthy smile and that begins with taking care of your teeth and mouth. When life gets busy, it is easy to let something like brushing your teeth twice a day fall to the wayside. But it is the number one thing that can have an impact on your overall health and is also the easiest to do twice a day.
Taking care of yourself, by any means possible, is important not only for your benefit but for the health and wellbeing of your family and those that depend on you. Using something as simple as natural toothpowders can give you the radiant and healthy smile you deserve.
Below are 7 need-to-know tips for keeping your teeth white and healthy.
1. Brush Your Teeth More Often
It is highly recommended that you brush your teeth at least twice a day. That would be morning and night; however, brushing your teeth after each meal is the best way to keep your teeth healthy and white.
Food and drink particles, especially drinks like coffee, cocoa, wine and other beverages that contain natural and artificial dyes, can and will stain teeth.
Foods like rice, broccoli, and pasta tend to hide in between teeth and can cause bacteria and plaque buildup and damage to your teeth and gums. Brushing your teeth after eating and drinking different foods will help to maintain a whiter smile.
Brushing your teeth first thing in the morning and before going to bed will keep dangerous bacteria out of your mouth and help to maintain your teeth in a healthier state longer.
2. Limit Acidic and Sugary Foods and Beverages
Acidic and sugary foods and beverages can leave your teeth with actual holes as these substances eat away the surface and tooth makeup. Acidic teas, fruit juices, and coffees turn into sugars, which are the culprits in breaking down the actual teeth, having worn down the enamel.
You may not have to avoid delicious foods and drinks all together but be mindful and limit these. Also, after drinking or eating something that could be harmful to your teeth, brush your teeth to make sure the substance does not “hang around” and destroy your teeth. At the very least, rinse your mouth with warm salt water or a good quality mouthwash to take away the threat of acid.
3. Drink More Water
Water is the best “medicine” for not only your teeth but for your overall health. A body is made up of between 45 and 65 percent water. When you are dehydrated, your body begins to shut down.
When you don’t drink enough water, and you are dehydrated, your teeth begin to deteriorate. Weak teeth are more susceptible to cavities and breakage. And no one wants broken teeth. They are painful and expensive to fix.
4. Flossing More
All dentists agree that flossing is as important to the care of your teeth as brushing. Many individuals shy away from flossing because they think it is too time-consuming and seems too complicated.
However, it doesn’t have to be. There are many floss picks on the market which allows one to easily pull out any food lodged in between the teeth. This is done without having to take yards of floss and wrap it around your fingers. These flossing picks also have a pointed end that can be used as a toothpick when not using the flossing end.
Flossing is beneficial as it stimulates the gums, helps lower inflammation, and removes plaque, all of which are necessary to have a healthy mouth.
5. Take Your Time
When brushing your teeth, take your time and spend more mindful time on your brushing. Many individuals brush quickly and without thinking about each tooth. Treating your teeth like just one more thing on a long list of things to do is not helpful.
Taking care of your teeth and mouth will go a long way to keeping your smile white and bright as well as contributing to your overall health.
When you have bad teeth, it can lead to many other health issues, not just bad breath. Bacteria can travel through the bloodstream and end up in your heart and/or lungs, causing a lot of damage before the cause is determined.
6. Eat Crunchy Vegetables and Fruits
Eating veggies and fruits that are crunchy are not only good for your overall health, but these types of products also help to protect your teeth and jaw.
By working your jaw and teeth on the crunchier fruits and veggies, you will avoid the sugary and soft foods which will only damage the outer layer of the tooth enamel. And that leads to many problems with your teeth and could lead to having no teeth at all.
When you eat healthier, not only for your teeth but for your health, you starve off diabetes, which can be deadly. Bad teeth make it harder to control diabetes and diabetes contributes to bad teeth. It is a vicious cycle and can be avoided by eating better and brushing your teeth more often.
7. Don’t Over Brush
Turbo-brushing is brushing too hard and this can be as harmful as not brushing at all. Brushing too hard can remove the outer layer of protective covering of your teeth. When this is stripped away, which is what you are doing when you brush too hard, you can’t get it back.
Brush calmly and deliberately. Make sure you brush in a circular motion with soft, sweeping motions. This will ensure you do not strip the protective layer off your teeth.
When you take care of your teeth, you will have them longer than others. False teeth are painful and hard to eat most of the delicious foods you are accustomed to. Take care of the teeth you have so you won’t have to replace them when you are older.
Your permanent teeth are the best ones for your mouth and they just need a little more care to last you a lifetime.