Getting and maintaining good oral health requires a little bit of time and a lot of consistency. The condition of your oral health will impact how your smile looks and how your teeth and gums feel. In addition, your oral health can impact your overall health. It is not complicated to stay on track with your oral health but it does require you to stay consistent with four key factors. These factors include brushing, flossing, routine dental visits, and a healthy lifestyle.

Brushing

Brushing is a key factor of good oral health that many of us learn about from an early age. It sounds simple enough to brush your teeth twice per day. However, it is easy to get too laid back about this familiar process and find yourself skipping it or not brushing thoroughly. If you are extra tired one night you may be tempted to fall into bed without brushing your teeth or going through your nightly routine. Doing this will allow harmful bacteria to remain on your teeth throughout the night and potentially lead to plaque, tartar, gum disease, and decay. It can also be tempting to be less thorough with the brushing process when you are tired or in a rush. Two minutes doesn’t sound like much but it can feel very long when you are trying to rush out the door in the morning. If brushing ever starts to feel like an afterthought, take some time to remind yourself of how much time it saves you to avoid major dental problems with proper oral care.

Flossing

Convincing people to floss regularly is a challenge that hygienists and dentists face on a daily basis. The general recommendation is to floss once per day. It can be easy to forget about flossing if you do not make it a regular part of your routine. And, flossing may seem less important than brushing because dentists recommend that you brush twice daily. The reality is that flossing plays an important role in the health of your teeth and gums. There are some areas of your mouth that brushing alone simply cannot reach. Flossing can help remove food particles and bacteria from between your teeth and at the gumline. This process can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. In order to have optimal oral health, flossing regularly is a key factor.

Routine dental visits

Routine dental visits are a key factor to good oral health for a couple of reasons. First, you get a thorough cleaning during your visits that removes plaque and tartar from your teeth. Second, your dentist will examine the condition of your teeth and mouth for signs of current or potential issues. The best way to protect against serious oral health issues is by catching them early at routine dental visits and then getting treatment.

Healthy lifestyle

Your lifestyle choices can also impact your oral health. For example, smoking can stain your teeth, damage your gums, and eventually lead to tooth loss. Eliminating smoking from your life will have a major impact on your oral health and your overall health. Your nutrition can also impact your oral health. Your teeth and gums are living things that need nutrients just like the other areas of your body. Living a healthy lifestyle in general can positively impact your oral health.

Your oral health needs to be a priority in your life. Neglecting it can come with serious side effects such as gum disease, decay, tooth loss, and a number of other issues. If you have been neglecting your oral health but are ready to get it back on track, schedule an appointment with Dental Remedies to get started.