There’s something a little unsettling about hearing, “Looks like you’ve got cavities!” So how can you achieve excellent oral health and hopefully avoid tooth decay and cavities? The team at Shoreline Dental Studio has 10 tips for helping you maintain healthy teeth and gums.
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Avoid Sugary Foods and Drinks
Plaque — also called oral bacteria — eats the sugars from your food in a process that results in enamel-damaging acids. Weaker enamel makes you more susceptible to tooth decay and cavities. Avoiding sugary foods and drinks lessens oral bacteria’s food source, in turn, minimizing the acids that weaken your teeth.
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Brush Your Teeth Twice A Day
Brushing is the foundation of good oral hygiene. The American Dental Association recommends you brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush for two minutes each time.
Want to make that two minutes more efficient? Consider an electric toothbrush. One oral health study found that electric toothbrush users showed 18% less tooth decay than the participants using a manual toothbrush.
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Use a Fluoride Toothpaste
Hands down, fluoride is the first feature you should look for in a toothpaste. Fluoride helps with remineralization — attracting calcium and phosphate to your teeth to strengthen your enamel. It also slows down the acid-producing capabilities of plaque.
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Floss Your Teeth Once A Day
A national survey found that only about a third of American adults over 30 years old floss daily. But daily flossing goes a long way in preventing cavities, especially between your teeth and at the gumline. If you’re not used to flossing, now’s a great time to start! We should mentioned that it’s common for gums to bleed a little when you first start a flossing habit so start with gentler dental tape, then graduate to waxed dental floss.
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Use Mouthwash Everyday
A fluoride mouthwash helps wash away remaining bacteria or food debris after brushing and flossing and introduces more fluoride to your teeth. Not sure which mouthwash to use? Ask your Shoreline dentist or team member for recommendations.
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Avoid Smoking and Tobacco
It’s no surprise that Dr. Ritzau and your Orange County dentists suggest staying away from smoking and tobacco. Smoking has many negative impacts on your oral health including:
- Discolored teeth
- Plaque and tartar build-up
- Gum disease
- Tooth loss
- Oral cancer
- Slower healing from injury or inflammation in your mouth
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Give Your Teeth A Break Between Meals
As we mentioned, eating produces acids — and a prolonged acidic pH level in your mouth gives acids the chance to further soften your enamel and cause cavities. Give your teeth at least two hours’ rest between meals so your saliva has time to buffer the acids and bring your oral pH back to a more teeth-happy, neutral level.
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Drink Lots of Water
Speaking of saliva, did you know that it’s made of about 99% water? So it goes without saying that you need a healthy water intake for processing your food when you chew, washing away food debris, and neutralizing your oral pH. Saliva also washes your teeth in fortifying calcium, phosphate, and fluoride and you need water to maintain healthy gums.
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See Your Orange County Dentist Every Six Months for a Dental Cleaning and Check Up
Including twice-yearly dental cleaning and check ups is a must for your oral health. In addition to a professional clean for your smile, we can catch little issues before they become big ones, take x-rays to see inside your teeth and gums, and apply fortifying fluoride to your teeth. You can also rest easy at Shoreline Dental Studio cleaning since we offer a Comfort Experience that makes dental visits as relaxed as possible.
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Get Dental Sealants
When you come in for a dental cleaning and exam at your Mission Viejo and San Clemente dentist, you have the option of getting dental sealants. Dental sealants are a plastic-type resin painted onto each tooth, sealing the pits, grooves, and chewing surfaces to form a protective layer over your teeth and prevent tooth decay. Dental sealants are a quick and effective answer for how to improve your oral health.
Do Your Best for Your Oral Health with Our August New Patient Incentive
At Shoreline Dental Studio, your oral health is our priority. From general dentistry to cosmetic and restorative options, we go above and beyond to help you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile.
Ready to level up your oral health? From August 12-31, 2023, we’re offering new patients an initial exam, preventative care cleaning, and digital x-ray diagnostics for $149. Schedule an appointment for this comprehensive dental cleaning and exam at our welcoming and state-of-the-art Mission Viejo or San Clemente office.
