Daily Habits for Strong, Healthy Teeth You Can Maintain at Home
Everyone wants to be able to look in the mirror and see healthy teeth and a happy smile, but there’s a problem that so many of us are facing. In many cases, it can feel like patients and dentists speak slightly different languages, causing bad habits to develop and simple things to be missed. The good news is that you’ve landed in just the right place because we’re going to bridge the gap and show patients and dentists how they can work together to improve outcomes.
Brushing only works with the right toothpaste
A soft-bristled toothbrush and a gentle circular motion are both great, but the most commonly overlooked piece of the puzzle is the choice of toothpaste. A fluoride-enriched toothpaste will strengthen delicate tooth enamel and can help achieve gentle whitening when used consistently for an extended period of time.
Dental practice managers who invest in a stock of the right toothpaste will allow their dental professionals to recommend that a small purchase be made from the reception desk by each patient. This is a great way of closing one of the biggest gaps in communication so that patients can achieve better results.
Flossing after meals really helps
Dentists who recommend a particular type and grade of dental floss will be able to help patients achieve consistently good results because they will be showing them how to tackle the issue of food debris. When food becomes stuck in any of the hard-to-reach places in the mouth, it rapidly becomes the ideal breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Before long, tooth enamel comes under attack, and the gums become inflamed. Once this happens, patients open the door for a whole host of more in-depth issues.
Spitting is always better than rinsing
Rinsing after brushing is something many learn to do from an early age, but all it does is get rid of the helpful fluoride from the toothpaste. Dentists who demonstrate the correct technique as a matter of course at the end of their appointments will be making a real difference. That’s because when it comes to dental health, consistency is far more important than the latest complex treatments. Getting the basics right every single day will have by far the biggest positive impact when it comes to protecting the teeth and allowing the smile to glow.
Mouthwash should be used at set times
Dentists should make it clear to every patient that mouthwash can strip fluoride back off the teeth. This means that patients should only use it at least 30 minutes after brushing. Failing to do so will undo much of the good work of the toothpaste, resulting in an at-home dental health program that falls far short of what it could be. Practice managers who source a reliable supply of the mouthwash their dental care professionals recommend will be able to help ensure that the basics are taken care of without delay.
Schedule regular dental checkups
Online booking or a quick phone call to your local practice is something that you can take care of in a couple of minutes, but it’s easy to forget. Practice managers have a key role to play here, with the way in which they market and advertise their practices online being particularly important. If a patient sees a Facebook or Instagram post from a practice that is highlighting how they have just received an order of new dental equipment from a nationwide supplier, it could nudge them into action.
Cutting out the sugary snacks
While many of us enjoy a sweet treat from time to time, the key is to find the right balance between pleasure and healthy eating. Sugary snacks actively attack the delicate enamel that keeps our smiles glowing and the sensitive internal structure of each tooth safe and sound. Reducing sugary snacks and brushing after eating them can help neutralise the chemistry in the mouth and help your teeth to look and feel their best. You may find that a few simple changes can make all the difference when you compound their impact for weeks and months.
Opting for mineral water makes a difference
Before we go, here’s a little habit that you can put into practice as soon as you finish this article. Fizzy drinks and hot drinks with a little sugar taste great—we’ll be the first to agree on that one—but they’re not really what your teeth have been asking for. Swap out one of your cans of pop or mugs of tea for a bottle of chilled mineral water, and you’ll be able to make a simple change that helps your teeth thrive every single day.
Don’t worry if you can’t automatically adopt all of these habits and stick to them—trying to do so is the most important thing. As time goes by, you’ll find little things that work for you so that you can build the consistency that will make the difference.