Good oral hygiene is important for good general health. We learn more and more every day about the negative affects poor dental care can have on every aspect of overall health and well being. For this reason, it is very important that you not only visit your dentist regularly, but also learn to take excellent care of your own teeth. In this article, we will discuss some good oral hygiene practices.
Teeth Whitening
While using an at-home teeth whitening system, it is best to avoid consuming any food or drink that could stain your teeth. These foods can make any teeth whitening efforts to fail. Commit to a lifestyle change in order to keep your bright smile.
Fillings
If you require a filling in one or more of your teeth, choose wisely. Tooth-colored composite fillings are an attractive, discrete option. However, this type of filling also happens to be less durable than most metal fillings. Metal fillings are also a better option for larger areas. Remember, looks aren’t everything!
Dentures
Taking care of your oral health and hygiene is still important even if you no longer have natural teeth. Both natural and false teeth need regular brushing. Brushing your tongue is as important, and you should use a special tongue scraper, or your toothbrush, to eliminate the bacteria that cause foul breath.
Dental Implants
If one or more of your teeth are missing or damaged, you may want to check out dental implants. Great advances have been made in implant technology, and the process of having one or more placed is now easier and less expensive. Unfortunately, the cost is not usually covered by insurance.
If you are visiting your dentist for cosmetic reasons, always choose the less invasive treatments. For example is you are choosing between crowns and veneers, always opt for veneers. Veneers only require you to trim back a bit of your tooth, while crowns involve a lot more and are more damaging.
Bridges
If you have missing teeth, you may be thinking about dentures. Permanent constructions, however, are a much better choice as dentures only have about one-fifth of the strength of regular teeth. Permanent options such as bridges will keep your teeth strong and allow you to live a more comfortable life.
Clearly, there is a great deal you can do to maintain your own excellent dental health. When you take the time to choose your dental hygiene products with care and use them properly it will go a long way toward helping you maintain your overall health. Remember to brush twice a day, floss daily and see your dentist at least once a year for great dental health.
