Easy Ways to Improve Your Smile

Your smile is one of the first things that people notice about you.  What impression are you giving with your smile?  If you are self-conscious about your grin, it may be time to make changes to your smile, and this means making changes in your oral care routine. As your trusted dentist in Southern Missouri, we believe that oral care is important and shouldn’t be hard.  Our southern Missouri dentist wants to share some tips to EASILY improve your oral care regimen. Here at Access Dental & Dentures we truly care about our patients AND their smiles. Below you can find some helpful tips on how to improve your smile through oral care.

1. Brush Twice a Day

It is recommended that you brush your teeth at least two times a day, once in the morning and again before bed at night.  This can help remove any food particles and bacteria that remain in your mouth throughout the day and overnight.  Getting into the simple habit of brushing twice a day can prevent many of the smaller issues that lead to bigger problems, such as tooth decay, plaque and tartar buildup, or even gum disease.

2. Floss Daily

Flossing removes plaque between teeth and out from under the gumlines, where a toothbrush can’t reach. Daily flossing helps prevent tooth decay and gingivitis.  Floss at least one time a day to remove debris from between your teeth and help keep your tooth surface clear of plaque that builds up throughout the day.

3. Incorporate Mouthwash

Using mouthwash can help clean your entire mouth, even cleansing hard to reach spaces that may have been missed by brushing and flossing alone.  Mouthwash easily cleans between the teeth and all over your mouth for a fresh, clean feel.

4. Scrub Entire Mouth 

Try to brush not only your teeth, but the entire inside of your mouth.  This is one of the best ways to achieve optimum oral hygiene and reduce bacteria build-up in your mouth.

5. Set a Timer

Brushing your teeth twice a day is a good step toward a healthy smile, but do not forget to brush for the correct amount of time.  Two minutes is the recommended length of time to brush your teeth. Until you are used to brushing for this long, consider setting a timer. This can help keep you on track and spend adequate time cleaning your teeth each time you brush.

6. Use a Quality Toothbrush & Replace Your Toothbrush Regularly 

It is recommended that you replace your toothbrush, or electric toothbrush head, every three months at maximum.  Over time, the bristles on your toothbrush will wear down and fray. These used bristles can be less effective at scrubbing the surface of your teeth as you brush. Using a quality toothbrush to begin with, will help maintain the life of your toothbrush, but replacing your toothbrush every three months is important to keep your smile healthy and bright.

7. Be Careful with Staining or Acidic Foods 

You can avoid the cost of getting your teeth professionally whitened by avoiding staining foods like coffee, red wine, and cola as much as possible.  You do not have to stop eating your favorite tomato sauce altogether but be smart about when you consume staining foods and try to brush your teeth following.  The same care should be taken when consuming acidic foods or drinks.  Citrus fruits, soda, and juices can deliver acid to your teeth that over time can be damaging to your smile.  Again, moderation and smart oral hygiene can lessen these damaging effects.

8. Quit Smoking

Smoking not only causes staining to your teeth, but it also damages your gums, causing them to recede and develop large pockets around the teeth.  This creates long dark spaces between the teeth and gums.  Smoking makes it very hard to reverse gum disease and puts you at a greater risk for many different types of cancer.

9. Visit Your Dentist Twice a Year

It's important to visit a dental professional on a regular basis. It is recommended to visit your dentist twice a year for regular cleanings.  Even if you don't notice an issue, a dentist can inspect your mouth to make sure there are no un-noticed issues. They can also do an x-ray to get a visual of what's happening behind the scenes. This is important information to monitor and make sure there are no drastic changes happening that shouldn't be.

You gain many amazing benefits to both your mental and physical health simply by smiling. These go way beyond just making you more attractive (although a good smile does automatically make everyone look better).  Now that you know these EASY ways to improve your smile, you're ready to start making changes to your oral care routine.  You don't always have to get costly surgery to get a great smile. Taking good care of your teeth on a daily basis, eating healthy foods, brushing at least twice a day, and flossing go a long way to make that happen. Scheduling regular checkups at one of our dental clinics in Southern Missouri is a wonderful way to ward off possible problems and fix any that may have started. We believe that everyone deserves a great smile and it's our goal to help as many people as possible have one.

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST

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