How to Look after Your Teeth: 7 Tips from the Experts

Here at Smile Stories, we are primarily cosmetic dentists. Our passion is changing people’s lives by giving them the smile they have always wanted. However, this means it’s even more important that our clients look after their teeth. After all, if you buy a new car, we guarantee that you’ll clean it regularly, so why should your teeth be any different?. Whether you want to make sure that your six-month health check runs smoothly or that your new smile stays looking like a million dollars, we have put together our seven top tips.

As cosmetic dentists, a lot of the work we carry out is due to people not knowing how to look after their teeth. What do we mean by that? It means that you stopped brushing twice a day or that you consumed too many sugary drinks. So, whether looking after your teeth is a new year’s resolution or you have finally got the smile of your dreams, if you want to keep that smile confidence flowing, thanks to our cosmetic treatments, keep reading.  

1. Fluoride Is Your Friend

You are probably sick of hearing about the benefits of fluoride, but there is a good reason for that — it’s because fluoride is beneficial when it comes to looking after your teeth. 

Fluoride comes from an element in the Earth’s soil called fluorine and scientific evidence suggests that it is effective at preventing cavities and is, therefore, a common ingredient in dental products like toothpaste. You will even find fluoride in many water sources around the world, with several organisations welcoming the introduction of fluoride into their water supply.

Unfortunately, fluoride is not a miracle cure and you should keep up your good dental hygiene habits if you want a healthy smile.

2. Don’t Forget Good Dental Hygiene

Want to know how to look after your teeth? Good dental hygiene is easily the most important aspect of maintaining a beautiful and healthy smile. We aren’t your usual dentists, we specialise in constructing the smile you have always wanted but we also can’t stress enough the importance of good dental hygiene when it comes to looking after your teeth. 

Brushing your teeth twice a day for the recommended time of over two minutes (or more if you are undergoing our Invisalign treatment), flossing daily and not neglecting your tongue are all important when it comes to looking after your teeth and gums.

3. Smoking Is a Big No-No

We get it. Giving up smoking isn’t easy, but at the same time, the health benefits of giving up are worth it. Smoking harms your body’s immune system, which in turn makes it difficult for your body to heal tissues, including those in your mouth. Also, smoking can cause a range of dental health problems:

• Increased buildup of plaque on your teeth
• Increased risk of gum disease, a common cause of tooth loss
• A delayed healing process following surgeries or treatments
• A lower success rate of dental implant procedures.

It is also worth remembering that smoking has a horrible effect on the appearance of your teeth and leaves them discoloured. Thankfully, Smile Stories can help with our Teeth Whitening Wednesdays. But if you want your pearly whites to continue to look….well, pearly white, then it’s time to quit the smoking habit.

4. Mouthwash More

Mouthwash isn’t there so that you can avoid brushing your teeth and still have a minty fresh breath. Believe it or not, mouthwash is designed to help improve your oral health. Not all mouthwashes are effective, but some that contain chlorhexidine, an antibacterial ingredient that can help control plaque and bleeding gums. Fluoride mouthwashes are designed to prevent cavities. Check out our list of the best mouthwash for receding gums.

5. Diet Is Paramount

Eating more healthily may be one of your best new year’s resolutions, not just for your waistline but also for your teeth and oral health. Do you want to know how to look after your teeth? Pay attention to what you are putting in your mouth. Sugary foods and drinks like candy, soda and chocolate all increase the likelihood of you developing cavities.

Okay, so we all know that gummy bears and candy floss are just sugar and sugar = bad for your teeth. However, it’s also important to remember that starchy foods such as crisps, crackers, pasta and bread can also play a part in causing tooth decay. That is because these foods remain in the mouth after consumption and turn into simple sugars. Acid-producing bacteria feed on these sugars, which in turn causes decay.

Paying attention to what you eat and drink is also important when you are undergoing our popular Invisalign treatment. One of the reasons why Invisalign is so popular is that you have a lot of freedom when it comes to eating and drinking during the treatment. However, it is always best to avoid sugary foods and drinks that could potentially cause plaque build-up and ruin all the effort you have put into achieving your dream smile.

6. Consider Cosmetic Dentistry

It might seem confusing to suggest cosmetic dentistry as a response to anyone wanting to know how to look after their teeth, but hear us out. Taking good care of your teeth and gums is essential right? By simply brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, you can keep your teeth looking their best and also prevent any potential problems. 

Crooked and overcrowded teeth can be difficult to clean. Traditional braces are also notorious for trapping food particles between them and your teeth (which is a pretty big problem in the fight against plaque build-up). However, with Invisalign, your teeth will not only be straighter and easier to clean, but with our removable aligner trays, you won’t have any trouble flossing and cleaning every surface of your teeth and gums.

7. Maintain a Feel Good Routine

Routines are important, they keep us accountable and stop tasks from feeling like a chore. If your daily oral hygiene routine seems like a chore then you are going to struggle to keep it up. It generally takes 21 to 30 days to build a habit, so start your healthy dental routine today.

Sometimes we all need a little push when it comes to motivation. You start seeing results in the gym, it gives you that push to keep going. The same can be said for your teeth. Sometimes the best way to look after your teeth is to get the smile you have always wanted and go from there.

Start your smile journey with Smile Stories and wave goodbye to bad teeth. Get in touch with our aesthetic dentists today and book your free consultation.

AUTHOR

Dr Gareth Edwards BDS (Hons) MFDS RCPS (Glasg) qualified from dental school with honours. Working in the Bournemouth & Poole area, he has a particular interest in orthodontics and is a certified Invisalign provider.