If you’re ready to learn the easiest ways to maintain your oral health in 2023, read on in this guide brought to you by Altoona Smiles.
What Are The Easiest Ways To Maintain Your Oral Health in 2023?
- Don’t Forget To Brush And Floss Every Day–Even Before Bed
- Consider Eating More Teeth-Healthy Foods
- Consider Botox Injections For Bruxism Or TMJ
- Be Sure To Visit Your Dentist Twice A Year
Don’t Forget To Brush And Floss Every Day–Even Before Bed
Maintaining good oral hygiene habits is vital to protecting your teeth and gums from decay and disease. Brushing your teeth twice each day and flossing once daily helps to remove food particles and plaque, a sticky substance that accumulates on the surface of your teeth and can eventually cause cavities and tooth decay if not removed. Don’t forget to brush and floss before bed to keep bacteria in check and remove plaque before it hardens into tartar.
What Are Teeth-Healthy Foods To Eat?
Calcium is essential for maintaining strong teeth and healthy bones. Common sources of calcium are dairy products such as milk and cheese, with aged cheeses like Monterey Jack, Swiss, and cheddar providing the added benefit of increasing saliva production, helping to wash away food particles. Yogurt and other cultured dairy products also contain beneficial probiotics.
To ensure proper absorption of calcium into the body, Vitamin D is needed and can be found in foods such as eggs, sardines, salmon, and mackerel, or by spending time outdoors in the sunshine. If you’re lactose intolerant, there are still many calcium-rich foods to choose from, such as yogurt, kefir, tofu, lactose-free milk, and milk alternatives with added calcium. Salmon with bones and canned sardines are also excellent sources of calcium, as well as Vitamin D.
Choose fresh fruits and veggies whenever you can. Fresh fruits and vegetables are naturally higher in water content which helps dilute the sugar when ingested. Additionally, crunching on fresh fruits and vegetables can help scrape off plaque and stimulate the production of saliva, which is beneficial for oral health. Unfortunately, the stickiness and sugariness of fruit snacks, dried fruit, and fruit leather make these choices more likely to cling to teeth.
To protect your teeth from cavities, reduce the consumption of sugary treats like lollipops, cough drops, and caramels, which contain a large amount of refined sugar. Additionally, be mindful of starchy snacks like potato chips and soft bread products that can get stuck between teeth. Carbonated drinks can also damage tooth enamel, so using a straw when drinking them is recommended. Lastly, bear in mind that alcohol can dry out your mouth. A dry mouth with reduced saliva production can lead to plaque buildup and an increase in tooth decay.
How Can Botox Injections Help Address Bruxism And TMJ?
TMJ, short for temporomandibular joint disorder, is a condition where the misalignment of the jaw causes pain in the temporomandibular joint, and can even impact other areas of the body. Located just in front of the ears, the temporomandibular joints connect the mandible (lower jaw) to the skull. Symptoms of TMJ include headaches and jaw or facial pain.
Bruxism is the medical term for teeth grinding or clenching. It is possible to have this habit while being awake (awake bruxism) or during sleep (sleep bruxism) without even being aware. Teeth grinding may be a sign of other conditions such as TMJ, snoring, stress, and anxiety. Symptoms of teeth grinding can include jaw, neck, or facial pain. It is important to address bruxism because it can result in worn tooth enamel or cracked or chipped teeth.
At Altoona Smiles, we offer Botox injections to target the muscles involved in TMJ and bruxism for temporary relief of pain and other discomforts associated with the conditions. If you wonder if you are a good candidate for this treatment, consult your expert at Altoona Smiles.
Why Is It Important To Visit The Dentist Every 6 Months?
Maintaining good oral hygiene is vital for a healthy mouth, and making time to see your dentist is another one of the best ways to maintain good oral hygiene. Even people who brush and floss every day should visit their dentist once every six months. During a check-up appointment, your dentist can remove any tartar build-up, check for cavities, and detect any potential oral issues. Furthermore, your dentist can provide advice on how to address any issues they may uncover.
If it’s time for your twice-a-year check-up, you should make an appointment, whether or not someone is experiencing a toothache. For patients in the Altoona, IA area, consider Altoona Smiles for your family and cosmetic dentistry needs. Call 515-200-1299 to ask about dental implants or schedule a visit today.
