Your teeth say a lot about you, the way they look is a reflection of your general health as a well as a clue about the way you take care of yourself. While a crooked smile or slight imperfections can add character and charm to a face, discolouration, tartar, rot and other dental issues are a health problem as well as a cosmetic one. Here are five simple things you can do to ensure your smile stays healthy/
Brush, Floss, Mouthwash
Stating the obvious here but brush twice a day, swish around a bit of mouthwash and floss whenever you're feeling enthusiastic and there's a good chance that you'll never need a filling. Just brushing your teeth properly twice a day can prevent tartar buildup, neutralise acids and sugars, remove bacteria and freshen up breath. It's so simple but is something that a surprising amount of people don't do twice a day.
Live a Healthy Lifestyle
That includes eating your veggies, drinking lots of water and getting plenty of calcium. Smoking can cause a variety of problems with teeth (including discolouration and gum disease), and regularly going overboard on sugary alcohol isn't doing them any favours either. Plus when you're drunk you're much more likely to forget to brush them before falling into bed.
Beware of Sugars and Acids
We were all warned as kids that eating too many sweets would lead to bad teeth. However sugar is a crafty one and winds up in just about everything, fruit contains a tonne of natural sugar and the sweet stuff is even in most savoury dishes. Acid is also your gnashers worst enemy and some foods can be so acidic they can attack your teeth directly, acid enamel erosion causes irreversible loss of tooth structure- scary! So be wary of things like vinegar, wine and fruit juices. Drink through a straw where possible, when you do this less of your teeth are coated in the sugars and acids from your drink.
Visit the Dentist Every Six Months
It might not be most people's idea of a fun day out, and it's usually pretty inconvenient. However getting yourself to a dentist every six months (even if your teeth feel fine) is essential. The dentist will able to pick up any potential problems including things like gum disease early, which will save you a lot of pain and money in the long run. If you're after cosmetic work then you might be better off looking for a reputable private dentist, it's amazing the kinds of transformations dentists can achieve these days; whether it's dental implants, invisalign or veneers.
Change Your Toothbrush Every Six Months
Not only will an old toothbrush be full of accumulated bacteria, but trying to scrub between all of the crevices of your teeth with a flattened mess of bristles is never going to go well. A worn out toothbrush is going to leave plaque and food residue behind which may well lead to you coming face to face with a dentists drill a few months later. I always buy toothbrushes in packs of four, that way I've always got a new one on hand when it gets past it's best.
