As you become an adult and maybe even start to have children of your own, you may believe that the importance of a good dental regime begins to become less important.
However, dental health is just as important when you grow up as it was when you were a child, with many of the habits that you pick up in childhood helping you to achieve healthy teeth in the future. Help your family to learn how to look after their teeth through you with this handy guide.
5 Tips for Keeping Your Smile Healthy
Visit the Dentist Regularly
The first thing that you should do is to book a dentist’s appointment as soon as possible, with most adults needing to visit the dentist on a yearly basis. However, 60% of people get anxious before going to the dentist, and 5-10% of people have dental phobia, which can stem from a number of different fears such as needles. This has led to 42% of Americans visiting the dentist less than they want to.
However, visiting the dentist is the best regular way of checking that your smile is healthy, with professional dentists able to raise awareness of possible issues with your teeth before they even happen, reducing the chance of major surgery. Canyon Crest Dental offers you and your family a comfortable experience, with extensive services ranging from check-ups to dental restorations.
Cut Down on Caffeine and Alcohol
Although drinking a lot of caffeine and alcohol can be tempting before or after a hard day at work or too much time with the family, caffeinated products such as tea and coffee, and alcohol, are some of the worst drinks for your teeth due to their ability to stain your teeth and lead to discoloration.
If you do drink caffeine or alcohol, you should try to drink water afterward to dilute the substance, and you should try to regulate the amount you consume.
Adjust Your Dental Regime to Adulthood
You may have a detailed knowledge of how to look after your teeth as a child, with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and a soft brush. However, now that you are an adult, adults should use a small amount of toothpaste and a medium soft toothbrush to help to remove plaque from the teeth. You should also start to floss or use interdental brushes which can remove excess plaque from the 40% of the mouth that your toothbrush does not reach.
Stop Smoking
Smoking can cause a lot of oral health problems, including mouth and tongue cancer, gum disease and staining. This is because smoking lowers your body’s natural ability to fight off bacteria and infection, allowing bad bacteria to get within your gum lining and cause issues. The best thing that you can do to prevent this is to cut down or quit smoking, as even as little as 10 cigarettes a day can cause the risk of disease to increase.
Be Wary of Whitening Products
As you get older, you may start to worry about your teeth’s appearance, such as if they are discolored or stained. With one-third of people unhappy with their teeth, this can drive many individuals to seek out home tooth whitening kits, which can damage your enamel and lead to other dental issues such as sensitivity. If you want to whiten your teeth, you should always look at professional options such as laser whitening, or discuss your chosen method with your dentist.