Smiles are contagious. The people who see your smiling face will themselves smile more. You can improve someone else’s mood by just being happy yourself. However, you may feel uncomfortable with your smile because you’re self-conscious that people will think you have bad teeth. Fortunately, any dental issues that you have can be easily remedied. Here are four ways to feel confident about your smile again.
Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day
Brushing your teeth twice a day, when you wake up and before you go to bed, is the minimum. But you can do it more often, perhaps brushing it after every meal, too. Brushing your teeth after eating can help maintain healthy oral hygiene and reduce the bacteria in your mouth. You should brush for at least two minutes with a toothbrush that’s just the right type for you, not too soft, not too hard. Avoid brushing too vigorously, as this can lead to sensitive gums. Baking soda is an excellent way of maintaining oral health as it neutralizes acidity in your mouth, which in turn means fewer stains on your teeth.
Floss Your Teeth Once a Day
Flossing is an important part of dental hygiene. Not only does it remove food particles that the toothbrush might have missed, but it also helps to scrape plaque off the teeth. Flossing can reduce your risk for cavities and gum disease. Unfortunately, people often neglect this important health habit. So how much should you floss? Most dental experts say you should do it once a day, for two minutes.
Avoid Sugary Drinks
Sugary drinks such as sodas, fruit drinks, iced and caffeinated teas, sports, and energy drinks have a negative effect on your oral health. They are a major cause of tooth decay. All that sugar in the drink mixes with plaque in your mouth and creates acid that destroys teeth enamel. The liquid also leaves a film on your teeth which promotes bacterial growth. This can lead to cavities, Sugary drinks also lead to dry mouth by reducing saliva production. All these factors contribute to tooth decay, cavities, gingivitis, and other dental problems.
See a Dentist
Unfortunately, many people are not aware of the risks of not regularly visiting the dentist. Neglecting to visit the dentist can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. When you visit a dentist, they will provide you with treatment which depends on what needs fixing. If you have tooth decay they will fill it with a dental filling material. If you have gum disease they will treat it with antibiotics. If you have missing teeth, they will offer dental implants, a procedure where the doctor places a small metal post in your jawbone and then covers the site with titanium, which will be the new tooth root.
You’ll be amazed at the results you get with these four ways to take care of your teeth. You’ll also begin to smile more often.
About the author:
Emma is a freelance writer based out of Boston, MA. She writes most often on health and education. When not writing, she enjoys reading and watching film noir. Say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2