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Maintaining healthy teeth has a number of benefits: a more attractive smile, better overall health, ease of chewing and speaking, gums that don’t bleed, less risk of infection. There are a number of people who don’t practice healthy dental habits, though, which can lead to needing extensive dental treatments to correct painful gum and teeth problems.
We’ve put together this guide to help you make healthy decisions regarding your oral health. Our cosmetic, general, and family dentists have years of experience helping people obtain healthy, beautiful smiles. Come see us in person for more personalized recommendations for your own teeth. Call us at 402-307-6227 to schedule your appointment.
How to Brush and Floss Correctly
Although most people brush their teeth at least once a day, many adults and children don’t know the best ways to get the most out of your brushing. Here’s what you should be doing:
- Brush for at least two minutes, making sure to clean the front, back, and chewing surfaces of all your teeth.
- Brush twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. If you consume a lot of sugary food or drink, consider brushing more often.
- Wait at least 30 minutes after eating or drinking to brush your teeth. Eating and drinking acidic food or drink can soften tooth enamel, and brushing too soon afterwards can speed enamel erosion.
- Supervise your child while they brush their teeth until the age of 7.
- Dental health is important even at a very young age. As soon as teeth start to come in, make sure to take care of those teeth.
Brushing is important, but flossing is just as important. Too many adults and children don’t floss as often as they should, if they floss at all. Flossing helps to remove plaque and food particles between the teeth. If these are not removed, they can lead to tooth decay, which requires composite filling at the best and full tooth extraction at the worst.
Flossing should be done at least once a day, preferably at night before going to bed. It may be painful if you haven’t flossed in a while, but stick it out and after a few days your gums will be used to it. It will be even more painful if you end up with extensive tooth decay, so it’s definitely worth it to stick to a flossing regimen.
The Best Foods for Oral Health
Eating a healthy diet is one of the best things you can do for your teeth. Conversely, eating a diet high in sugar and simple carbs (such as soda, fast food, candy, white bread, and more) is bad for both your teeth and your overall health.
Here are some of the best foods to eat for healthy teeth:
- Cheese
- Leafy greens
- Whole fruits and vegetables
- Plain yogurt
- Almonds
Water is also essential to a healthy and teeth-friendly diet. It doesn’t erode or stain your teeth like soda, wine, tea, and coffee do. It can also be used in place of mouthwash to rinse away loose food particles or residue, and can help rinse acid off the teeth after a meal.
Tea is actually good for general oral health, but it can stain the teeth. If your teeth have been stained from years of drinking coffee, tea, or other dark colored liquids, we offer professional teeth whitening services to help you achieve a bright, white smile again.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Regular visits to the dentist are vital for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. A dentist is
able to examine your teeth for cavities, decay, infection, and other potential problems. They can deep clean your teeth professionally, and eliminate plaque build-up. Plus, they’ll check your mouth for signs of cancer and perform X-rays to make sure your teeth are in good shape.
If you have tooth decay, it can cause serious problems if left untreated. Minor cavities can often be treated easily with a dental inlay such as composite fillings; however, larger areas of decay may require a root canal and dental crown. If the decay is so bad that most of the tooth is affected, you may need a dental extraction.
Services that The Dentists offer include:
- Oral exams and professional cleaning
- Root canals
- Extractions and implants
- Fillings
- Dental veneers
We also offer emergency dental services if you have a dental issue in immediate need of attention.
Start Good Dental Health Habits Young
Great dental health starts when you are a child. If children are raised to practice good oral hygiene and not fear the dentist, they will have much better oral health as they become adults. We recommend the following tips for helping children maintain strong teeth:
- Brush your child’s teeth for them using a small brush with soft bristles until they are old enough to handle the toothbrush themselves. Continue to supervise for a few years at least.
- Feed your child a wholesome and healthy diet. Occasional treats are okay, but make sure they brush and floss properly afterwards.
- Take your child to the dentist as early as possible. Prepare them for the visit by explaining what they should expect and why they are going.
- Maintain a regular, long-term dental checkup schedule.
Here at The Dentists, we’ll help your child acclimate by showing them around the office, explaining the tools we use, and providing toys for them to play with. In most cases, parents are welcome to accompany their child into the treatment room as well.
Our family dentists are experienced with caring for children and their teeth, and will do their best to help your child have a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
Schedule Your Appointment With The Dentists Today
Whether you have perfect teeth and just need to maintain your smile, have a major dental problem, are looking for a dentist to bring your kids to, or even just want to fix a cosmetic problem, The Dentists are here to help.
Call us at 402-307-6227 to schedule your appointment today. We have four locations around Omaha, Nebraska and we are ready to help you obtain a healthy and beautiful smile.