Most people don’t enjoy the idea of a thorough and rigorous dental health routine. In fact, lots of people don’t understand the seriousness but also the simplicity of taking care of their teeth. There are lots of ways you can look after your dental health and it does take a certain level of dedication, but with the right know-how, you can ensure you spend less time at the dentist and more time living life to the full. Let’s take a look at just a few of the ways you can improve your dental health for a brighter and healthier smile.
What you should be doing
The first and most vital step to ensuring good dental health is to brush. Most people tend to under brush, but having a tendency to brush too hard and for too long can cause problems. It’s recommended that you brush your teeth using a fluoride toothpaste for 2 minutes before bed and on one other occasion throughout the day. It doesn’t matter if you use an electric or manual toothbrush, as long as you brush for two minutes twice a day, this will significantly help to improve your dental health.
If you have brushing down to a tee, it might be that you’re forgetting to floss. If you’re looking to really stay on top of your dental health, flossing is the answer. Flossing isn’t just for dislodging food wedged between your teeth, regular flossing may also improve your dental health by reducing gum disease and bad breath as flossing helps to remove the plaque that forms along your gum line. It’s best to floss before you brush your teeth, taking 8 to 10 strokes up and down between each tooth with around 12 to 18 inches of floss or dental tape. If you prefer, you can also user interdental brushes and if you’re unsure what to use, you can always consult your dentist.
Although not as essential to your dental health as brushing and flossing, you can also add mouthwash to your teeth cleaning regime. Using a mouthwash that contains fluoride can help prevent tooth decay, helping improve your dental health. However, you shouldn’t use mouthwash (even a fluoride one) straight after brushing your teeth or it’ll wash away the concentrated and essential fluoride in the toothpaste that is left on your teeth after brushing. Simply choose a different time to use mouthwash, such as after lunch or dinner.
What you should avoid
When it comes to taking care of your dental health, most people overlook the importance of diet and drinks. Your diet, drinking alcohol and smoking can have detrimental and sometimes irreversible effects on your dental health. Maintaining a healthy diet is really important when it comes to looking after your teeth. Limiting the amount of sugar you eat and drink is vital in preventing tooth decay.
Smoking is a large contributory factor to a lot of people’s dental health. Smoking can stain your teeth yellow, cause bad breath, and increase your risk of gum disease, as well as causing many other serious health problems. Cutting smoking out of your lifestyle can vastly help you improve your dental health. Alongside smoking, alcohol is another lifestyle factor that can affect your dental health. Alcohol, like smoking, can also erode the outer surface of the teeth, leading to a loss of enamel. If this happens, you may need to go to the dentist for a filling. To avoid fillings, stains and everything in between, it’s important to look after your teeth and seek advice from your dentist if you’re unsure about the health of your teeth and gums.
What to do when problems arise
It’s crucial that you visit your dentist regularly for check-ups to ensure any problems you may have can be treated sooner rather than later. If problems with your dental health are left untreated, it could lead to damage that is harder or even impossible to repair. Don’t delay treatment. The NHS offers a wide range of dental treatments such as fillings and root canal treatment as well as cosmetic dentistry. Ensure your dental health stays on top form by taking your dentist’s advice and treat issues as soon as they arise.
At Protectus Healthcare, we understand the importance of taking good care of your health. That’s why we always go the extra mile to find you the dental/health insurance policy that meets all your needs. From flexibility to affordability we will locate the policy that sits in line with your lifestyle. Get in touch for unbiased and trustworthy health insurance advice you can rely on.
   
    
