7 Dental Care Tips to Keep Your Teeth Clean Between Visits

About 13% of children and 26% of adults have untreated dental caries. Meanwhile, only 86% of children and 65% of adults have visited a dentist in the past year. It's important to learn how to maintain your oral health between visits.

Otherwise, your risk of tooth decay will only increase between appointments.

Instead, follow these seven essential dental care tips. With these tips, you can keep your teeth clean between dental appointments. You'll have peace of mind knowing you're doing everything to improve the state of your teeth!
Keep your teeth sparkling and clean with these seven simple tips today. 

1. Make It Routine
While it might seem like a simple tip, many adults and children neglect to brush twice a day. If you want to improve your dental care this year, make it a habit. Brushing after every meal would be ideal if possible.

If you have younger children, consider brushing as a family. Younger children usually want to mimic their parents. If they see you brushing, they might get into the habit, too.

Neglecting to brush your teeth two to three times a day will allow plaque to coat the surface of your teeth. Plaque can harden into tartar over time. You'll need to visit your dentist to clear tartar away with a professional cleaning.
Otherwise, your risk of gum disease and tooth decay could increase.

Instead, make sure to brush two to three times a day after meals. Brushing can keep plaque from building up.

Make sure to brush every single tooth. Brush using circular motions and at the focus on the gumline where plaque accumulates.

You don't have to go over the top to maintain your routine. Instead, brush after every meal for at least two minutes. Don't forget to floss every night at bedtime, too!

Flossing will ensure food particles and plaque don't remain trapped between your teeth and under your gums. Otherwise, your gums could become infected and inflamed. If you're not flossing, you could develop gum disease.

Signs of gum disease include sensitivity, changes in your bite, and swollen gums.

Talk to your Upland dentist about your flossing technique to make sure you're thoroughly cleaning each tooth.

2. Cut Bad Habits
Bad habits like smoking and consuming large amounts of sugar can wreak havoc on your teeth. Instead, use these dental care tips to improve the state of your teeth between appointments.

First, try to avoid drinking soda regularly. The ingredients responsible for making soda fizz can eat away at your tooth enamel. Your enamel protects your teeth from potential decay.

If the phosphoric and citric acid in soda breaks down your tooth enamel, it could increase your risk of cavities.

Instead, try to drink more water. Water can wash away bacteria, acid and food particles that are clinging to the surface of your teeth.

Try to limit how much sugar you have each day, too. Minimizing your sugar intake can keep your teeth healthy and clean between visits.

Otherwise, sugar will feed and promote bacterial growth in your mouth. This bacteria released acid that damages enamel. Acidity and bacterial growth can also cause plaque. The bacteria growing in the plaque can increase your risk of tooth decay or gum disease.

Don't worry; you don't have to cut out sugar completely. Instead, try to limit how much you consume. If you have something sweet, try to do it before you're planning to brush.

If you want to improve your tooth health this year, consider cutting smoking out of your routine, too. Smoking can have a lasting impact on the state of teeth and gums. 

In fact, the nicotine and tar in cigarettes can start to eat away at your gums. Smoking can cause bacteria production to increase, too. As plaque forms, your risk of gum disease and tooth decay will continue to rise.

Smoking could increase your risk of oral cancer and tooth loss as well. 

3. Adjust Your Diet
A few small changes to your diet can have a major positive impact on your dental care. Consider adding foods that will benefit your oral health to your routine.

For example, you can start consuming more dairy. Dairy products like yogurt, cheese, and milk are high in phosphates and calcium. These minerals can help strengthen your teeth.

Consider adding in mints that contains xylitol. Xylitol can combat the bacteria that causes cavities. Mints with xylitol can keep your gums and teeth clean. In fact, they can also boost saliva production.

Saliva can fight against cavities and gum disease.

4. Use the Right Technique
Brushing your teeth twice a day is only part of the equation. How you brush your teeth matters as well.

Take a moment to consider your technique. First, make sure to hold the brush at a 45-degree angle. Then, use circular, short motions.

Make sure to point the brush toward your gum line, too. Then, brush each tooth between 10 and 15 times.

Using the proper technique will ensure you clean every tooth thoroughly. If you're unsure about your current technique, talk to the best dentist in Upland! They can help make sure you're brushing properly.

5. Chew Gum
Consider chewing on a stick of sugar-free gum after lunch. Gum can freshen your breath and remove excess food particles between brushings.
Gum can also boost your saliva production. Your saliva contains natural antibacterial properties. It could prevent bacteria from feeding off of food particles in your mouth as a result. 

6. Change Your Brush
Make sure to switch out your toothbrush every three to four months. If the bristles look weak, they might not work as effectively. Instead, switch brushes each time you visit your dentist. 

7. Schedule Checkups
It's not enough to use these dental care tips, though. You also need to make sure you're visiting the dentist twice a year. They can help ensure your teeth and gums are healthy.

They can also help you catch signs of decay or gum disease before the problem gets worse.

Brush Up: 7 Dental Care Tips for Stunning, Healthy Teeth
Don't let bacteria and plaque impact the state of your teeth between appointments. Instead, use these dental care tips to keep your teeth healthy and clean. With these tips, you can visit your dentist feeling confident in the state of your teeth.

Want to discuss your dental care with the best dentist in Upland? We can't wait to see you. 
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Contact us today to get started.