Rarely do we recognize our teeth as the strongest parts of the human body. Yes, they are the toughest bones we have, ranking 5 on the Moh’s Scale and in our eyes, they’re indestructible. Well, sort of.

We use our teeth for numerous things beyond chewing our food. We use them for opening up stubborn packaging, holding onto items when our hands aren’t enough and it’s a convenient bottle opener. All of these things we put our teeth through are major factors causing periodontal disease, tooth decay and tooth loss. Sure, you can go to your dentist when these problems arise, but there’s only so much they can do to help your case. In fact, dental implants are the number one solution for those missing one or more teeth. However, we want to help you out before it ever gets to that point.

Taking care of your teeth is easy. The key is practicing good habits on a daily basis, some of them you never even have to think twice about! With these 5 tips you have a great chance of having a healthy set of teeth and gums for a lifetime.

Stick with a Good Oral Hygiene Routine

You’ve been brushing your teeth from a very young age, which is great! Those who learned the art of toothbrushing in their childhood have a greater chance of keeping up with it throughout their whole lives. However, there may have been a point in your teen years where oral hygiene wasn’t your entire focus. There may have been days where you skipped on brushing your teeth and that slowly grew into a bad habit. A result of that is the beginning of tooth decay, and it follows you forever.

If you’ve skipped out on brushing your teeth more than once, now’s the time to break that habit. Just think, every time you miss out on brushing your teeth, you’re slowly letting the effects of gingivitis, staining and tooth decay settle in and tear your oral health apart. Don’t let that happen to you. Start practicing oral hygiene habits today - including toothbrushing, flossing and using mouthwash – and your future self will be very thankful.

Visit Your Dentist Even if You Don’t Want To

Here at Atlantic Dental Group we urge you to visit your dentist at least once every six months. It’s not to our benefit, it’s just the right thing to do for a lifetime of strong, healthy teeth. Even just one cleaning a year can go a long way in comparison to not going at all. Your dentist is able to give your teeth a full cleaning that you can’t reach with just a toothbrush and provide you dental tips that are specific to your case. Here in our office, our dentists will treat you like a friend. We’re not going to let you go home without educating you on your own oral health.

For some people, they don’t visit their dentist because their limited financially. Lucky there are some alternatives that you can look into if you fall into this category. Plenty of dental schools offer free or reduced services if your willing to have a student work on you. There are also free community-based clinics that offer basic services to qualifying patients. Your dentist may also offer payment plans to choose from, stretching your payment over a period of time. Essentially, there’s no reason for you to ignore a trip to the dentist.

You Can Never Drink Enough Water

Drinking water is only second to brushing your teeth when talking about good oral hygiene. Water flushes out food particles that get stuck in between your teeth, your gums and you tongue. It’s the only things you can swish around in your mouth (besides mouthwash) that won’t cause massive damage to your teeth. Get at least 8 cups of water in everyday, not only to stay hydrated, but to swig out any lingering sugars and bacteria.

While you’re at it, go ahead and avoid too many sugary drinks. You’re an adult, we can’t stop you from drinking soda, even if you’re one to dip your food in it, However, you’ll eventually pay the price for drinking too much soda with tooth loss and gum disease. Plus, sugary drinks actually dry out your mouth and cause dehydration. One of the safest ways to ensure you have all of your teeth for a lifetime is to simply give up on sodas and the like.

Make a Quality Investment in Dental Hygiene Products

There’re no cutting corners when it comes to taking care of your teeth. If you want strong and healthy teeth, you have to invest in them. It’s vital you replace your toothbrush at least once every three months, sooner if you’ve overcome a sickness spell. Toothbrushes aren’t even that expensive, the least expensive brand does as good of a job as professional-level brands. You can also invest in an electric toothbrush that aids in removing food particles and getting between your teeth before you even get to flossing.

Don’t forget about your floss and mouthwash! Flossing is important because it helps clean the half of your teeth that’s unreachable by a toothbrush. With the right technique, it can take as little as a minute to do every day. You can even use a Waterpik if you’re scared of bleeding gums. Another thing to add to your shopping list is medicated mouthwash. In comparison to regular mouthwashes, which only masks the smell of bad breath, medicated mouthwashes tackle and prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay thanks to special formulation. Remember, investing now into your oral hygiene will pay off in the long run.

Keep a Balanced Diet Rich in Vitamins and Minerals

The thin layer of enamel that protects your teeth goes under a ton of strain every single day. It fights off a never ending attack of acids that result from bacteria breaking down food on the surface of your teeth. That’s why your enamel needs backup in the form of a healthy diet. Make sure to consume plenty of foods that are rich in Vitamins A-E, calcium, magnesium, potassium and iodine. These help strengthen enamel and remineralize your teeth as they prepare for contact with your next meal.

If you’re having trouble locating foods that contain these essential vitamins and minerals, you have one other option, supplements. You can easily find supplement tablets at the pharmacy, and it never hurts to have a supply of them even if you do have an already balanced diet.

Atlantic Dental Group is Here to Help

These tips make it easy for you to take care of your teeth. So long as you use them to develop good habits, you’ll have strong and healthy teeth for a lifetime. Atlantic Dental Group will be here for you whenever you need us, even if you lose a tooth. Oral hygiene is important, and we’ll do our very best to make sure the 32 teeth that grow in during your teen years is the same 32 teeth you have going into retirement.