It’s the first thing that people see when they meet you; when you start your day at work, when you pass folks on the street or say hi at the grocery store. Your smile is what your family sees when you greet each other in the morning and hopefully it’s what YOU see when you are waking up and looking in the mirror. Your smile matters!
You’ll want to keep your smile bright, so you can keep it going. Day after day, year after year. We’d like to help you with that, to keep smiling. We want you to feel confident when you show your pearly whites as an expression of yourself.
So how can we help?
In addition to regular 6-month checkup with your dentist, we have put together this list to help you keep decay away.
Home Fluoride Rinse
Use a non-acidic oral rinse. The mouth already has an acidic environment, so choosing a rinse that is non-acidic is more helpful for preventing decay.
Xylitol Gum
Xylitol helps with fighting tooth decay in many ways, here are just two examples:
- It increases salivary flow, which aids in repairing damaged tooth enamel.
- It reduces plaque formation. There is a ton of information you can research about this helpful way to keep decay away.
Fluoride Varnish
This topical solution is used on the surface; it has been found to help re-mineralize teeth. For the most effectiveness, this should be applied twice a year at your dental visits.
h20 Instead of Sugary Drinks
Water is a healthier choice over sugary drinks for many reasons. When it comes to decay, sugary drinks can be acidic and cause enamel erosion, water does not. Also, water helps to wash away leftover food and help stave off bacteria from forming on teeth.
Brush, Brush, Brush!
After every meal is the preferred choice for brushing (followed by flossing, of course!) but at least twice a day. We have provided resources in a previous blog post about choosing the right toothpaste, be sure to re-visit this information if you are unsure.
A Healthy Diet
You will want to make sure that you are eating foods that are rich in the following:
- Calcium (yogurt, greens & legumes)
- Vitamin D (poultry, fish & eggs)
- Minerals (such as phosphorus, magnesium & vitamin A)
Additionally: Choose foods that do not contain, or that are low in sugar. These contribute to tooth decay in a significant way.
Tooth decay is preventable if you take measures against it. While it’s true that you must make your hygiene appointments a priority (don’t skip your hygiene appointments!!!), we are only part of the effort to keep you smiling. Your efforts and daily care are ultimately what will make the difference. Remember, your smile matters!