Healthy teeth also make precious smiles. You can be happy if you feel no pain in your mouth while feeling clean and smelling fresh all the time. It is common knowledge that brushing your teeth every day is the best way to keep them healthy. That is entirely true but keep in mind that it is the minimum effort you could do and it is not enough. Improving not just your oral routine but your overall personal hygiene and lifestyle could do wonders for your teeth and the entire mouth.

Common tools and dental care are available in most stores and supermarkets. You can scour the best and most expensive brushes and dental procedures but it will not guarantee the best health if you do not adopt a holistic approach. Dental health is sometimes a symptom of an underlying health condition or problem. There are secret methods that can help you achieve and maintain healthy teeth.

Proper Brushing and Cleaning Techniques

Brushing with a toothbrush and toothpaste twice a day is the basics. Even this is not enough to ensure that your teeth are happy. When you brush, you have to make sure that you remove all the larger food particles in your teeth. Do this rigorously in a back and forth motion for two minutes or more. Discard your brush every three months and use toothpaste and mouthwash that are rich in fluoride. 

It’s not just the teeth that need cleaning. You have to make sure that gums and tongue are clean as well. Gargle ferociously to flush out food debris from hard to reach areas especially in the inner mouth. Scrape your tongue with your brush or use a scraper because this area can harbor plenty of bacteria over time. Every time you finish, rinse your mouth well. Floss properly then rise again two to three times more. 

Quit Unhealthy Vices

Tar and nicotine from cigarettes and the sugar content from alcoholic beverages can cause damage to your teeth. They do not just turn them into a yellowish color but they damage your gums by eating it away. That is the reason why you can see blackened and bleeding gums on smokers. Alcohol causes dehydration and dry mouth. They can lead to tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease. It is best to totally cut out these bad habits to maintain healthier teeth and body.

Schedule With the Dentist Regularly

It has been a common practice to visit the dentist only when there’s pain. This is because of sheer negligence, financial constraints or childhood trauma. You should know that the standard twice a year recommended schedule with a dentist is just a minimum. It is actually better to go to one every three months! According to HolisticDentistryUSA.com, a website created by dental experts from the US, bacteria in the mouth can come back and accumulate again in ninety days. They find the same condition it was prior to cleaning. It may seem expensive but this is a proactive action to stall any further problem.

Proper Diet and Nutrition

What you put in your body also affects your teeth because it is the first one to break down whatever food you eat. Sweets can fuel the growth of bacteria and acidity in the mouth. It is the primary cause of tooth decay which results in erosion of the tooth’s enamel.

Aim to incorporate food rich in calcium in your diet. These are your milk, yogurt, cheese, and tofu among others. Your teeth are part of your skeletal system so whatever food that’s good for your bones will make your teeth happy as well. If you want to make sure your gums are healthy, increase your vitamin C intake. Having a healthy diet and lifestyle will improve your overall well being.

Use Natural Alternatives

If you want some home alternative for dental health then you should gather a few ingredients from your cupboard. Popular DIY alternatives are oil pulling wherein you gargle with coconut oil to pull out toxins from the mouth and brushing with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to remove plaque and whiten the teeth. These can be easily done so there is no harm in practicing them occasionally. 

Same with our body and mind, dental health is also wealth. You can be generous in laughter and smiles if you are not feeling any pain or hiding any plaque. These practices can be built over time and result in pearly white teeth and fresh smelling breath while adding to the quality of your life.