What Else Is There Besides Brushing and Flossing?

Teeth are essential. They help us chew food (for survival), they help us talk (for communication), and they help us smile (for photographs). They’re typically pretty strong, unless we neglect them.

A lot can go into caring for your teeth. Brushing and flossing are of course the two most important things you can do.

But if you want to keep your teeth truly healthy and bright, here are three ways you can go the extra mile for your mouth:

1) Add Mouthwash to the Mix

Mouthwash has a reputation as a breath-freshener, but it’s for more than just minty exhalation. Mouthwash is great for teeth in a number of ways.

There are two types of mouthwash: cosmetic and therapeutic. Cosmetic mouthwashes come with added benefits of super-fresh breath and possibly even whiter teeth.

Therapeutic mouthwashes, though, provide additional protection against cavities and gum disease. When choosing a mouthwash, you don’t necessarily need to avoid those cosmetic benefits, but make sure you get a mouthwash that indicates it protects against germs, gingivitis, plaque, etc.

One other thing: keeping mouthwash beside the toothbrush has a psychological effect of increasing the chances you won’t skip brushing and/or flossing your teeth, even if you’re running late in the morning or really tired at night.

2) Drink More Water

Just about any medical professional from any field would advise us all to drink more water. For dental professionals, water is a great solution to many common issues, especially those arising from drinking coffee or tea.

As noted previously, coffee and tea are acidic beverages that wear away your teeth. Water is a great counterbalance, helping rinse away that acid, especially if you drink water at the same time.

It can also be somewhat dangerous to brush your teeth immediately after drinking coffee, so a glass of water with, or after, your coffee helps rinse away that acid and clear the enamel for a proper brushing.

3) Eat More Vitamin-Rich Foods

According to Live Science, your teeth will be able to stay strong and healthy using nutrients that you can easily consume. Cheese for calcium, eggs and fish for phosphorous…the list goes on.

See their complete blog post at:
http://www.livescience.com/44111-foods-healthy-teeth-bad-breath.html

Quick note — the first thing they recommend is tea. Of course, we don’t recommend not drinking coffee or tea, but do pay attention to the advice above — drink more water with your tea and keep your teeth’s enamel strong!

And, as always, the best advice comes straight from your dentist, so schedule an appointment at Studio City Dental Center today!

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