Top Tips For A Healthy New Year
Cosmetic dentistry treatments like teeth whitening and veneers have become quite popular over the years, not just for their aesthetic values but also for their health benefits. The beginning of the New Year, 2023, is an excellent time to start a healthy routine to improve your overall well-being, including dental health. You can include some tips in your life to have a holistic approach to improving your health.
Go for a dental checkup and routine dental cleaning
Your everyday oral habits greatly influence your general dental health. It is recommended to follow the primary three steps brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing, and rinsing; you can also add a gentle tongue cleaning. These vital steps should form part of your daily oral hygiene regime. Even if you maintain your oral hygiene diligently, it is critical to visit a dentist on a regular basis, at least two times a year. Regular dental cleanings and fillings will not only make your teeth healthy but beautiful as well. You can also ask your dentist to recommend good oral hygiene products like mouthwash. Regularly visiting a dentist will help you identify oral issues like cavities and gingivitis.
Maintain a healthy diet
A healthy diet filled with vitamins and other nutrients is vital for the overall health of your body, including your dental health. Foods rich in calcium, phosphorous, vitamin C, and vitamin D are great for maintaining your teeth and keeping gums healthy and strong. A deficiency of these vitamins can lead to tooth and gum issues. Include foods in your diet like bananas, melons, lettuce, milk, cucumbers, poultry, seafood, pasta, and eggs that are tooth-friendly. Drink water after each meal to wash away sticky foods and keep your mouth hydrated. It is better to limit starchy, sugary, and acidic foods like soda, candy, tomatoes, pickles, pineapples, plums, coffee, and tea in your diet, as these can cause your teeth to decay.
Improve your stress levels
Excessive and chronic stress can wreak havoc on your body’s health. Your oral health can also suffer significantly from extreme anxiety. It can lead to issues like bruxism, TMD, canker sores, cold sores, dry mouth, and even poor oral hygiene habits.
Reducing stress will improve overall dental health by boosting immune function, reducing muscle tension, causing less inflammation, and making it easier to concentrate on maintaining and caring for oral health. You can even reduce the frequency of dental cleanings and fillings by having a proper oral regime. Consult your dentist for medication and a night guard for issues like sores and TMD.
You can reduce stress through several methods, including:
- Do meditation and yoga to calm your mind.
- Invest in a new hobby that can take your mind off stressful things.
- Take adequate restful sleep and consult a doctor if you face sleep issues.
- Identify the triggers that cause excessive stress and try out methods to approach such situations differently.
- Take the help of an experienced professional whenever required.
Move your body
Your overall oral health can be boosted through regular exercise. A regular exercise routine will help you reduce your BMI and obesity risk, which will lower the chances of periodontal disease. Being active can also reduce stress and increase salivation. It also aids in improving your posture, lowering the chances of issues like TMD. Aerobic exercises like walking, jogging, and similar light exercises are good, especially for beginners. You can also use apps to help you find an exercise routine that suits your needs.
Smile more!
Smiling releases endorphins and cortisol. These hormones not only boost our mood but provide numerous health benefits, including:
- smiling boosts the immune system
- lowers blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular diseases
- boosts endurance
- reduces stress and anxiety
- reduces pain
- improves your life and relationships
There are several ways you can smile more. Practice smiling by looking in a mirror. Start your day doing things you enjoy and being active. Try finding joy in simple things, be grateful for everything good in your life, and develop a positive attitude. Visit a dentist regularly for cleanings and fillings to make your smile beautiful. Also, use cosmetic dentistry treatments like teeth whitening to improve your confidence while you smile.
Smiling does wonders for your mental health. It reduces anxiety and stress by producing endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, which will elevate your mood. It is also helpful in combating mental issues like depression.
Oral health is essential for the overall well-being of a person. It is a multipronged process that includes visits to dentists, eating healthy, exercising, and being stress-free. You can also use cosmetic dentistry procedures like dental bonding and teeth whitening to increase your confidence and improve your new year’s smile.
Dry January- The effects of alcohol on your oral health
We know that the holidays are an alcohol-rich affair. Dry January is a campaign where people pledge to refrain from consuming alcohol for the entire month of January. The campaign is typically meant to encourage people to take a break from cocktails after the holiday season and to consider their relationship with alcohol. Some people participate in Dry January as a way to improve their health or reset their habits. At the same time, others use it as an opportunity to raise awareness about the harmful effects of alcohol on physical and mental health.
How alcohol affects your teeth
Drinking alcohol can have harmful effects on your dental health. Here are a few ways that alcohol can impact your teeth and gums:
- Dry mouth: Alcohol can reduce saliva production, leading to dry mouth. Saliva helps to neutralize acids in the mouth and wash out food particles. A lack of saliva can increase the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
- Gum disease: Alcohol can cause dry mouth, which can increase the risk of gum disease.
- Tooth discoloration: Alcohol can stain the teeth, particularly if it contains dark or colorful additives, such as red wine or cocktails with dark juices or syrups. The acid in alcohol can also weaken tooth enamel, making it more susceptible to staining.
- Tooth enamel erosion: The acid in alcohol can weaken tooth enamel, which can lead to tooth sensitivity and an increased risk of tooth decay.
- Increased risk of oral cancer: Heavy alcohol consumption is linked to a higher risk of oral cancer.
- Poor oral hygiene: Alcohol consumption can impair judgment and coordination, making it more difficult to practice good habits like brushing and flossing.
It’s essential to limit your alcohol intake to reduce the risk of these harmful effects on your dental health. If you choose to consume alcohol, brush and floss your teeth regularly and stay hydrated to help mitigate some of these effects.
Combating the effects of alcohol – maintaining oral care
Several dental treatments can help combat the negative effects of alcohol on your teeth and gums. Here is a brief overview of each treatment:
Teeth whitening
Teeth whitening can help to remove stains and discoloration caused by alcohol. There are various options regarding teeth whitening, including at-home kits, in-office treatments, and over-the-counter products.
Cleaning
Professional teeth cleaning, also known as scaling and root planing, can remove plaque and tartar build-up from the teeth and gums. This can help to prevent gum disease and improve the overall health of your mouth.
Gum disease treatment
If you suffer from gum disease, your dentist might recommend a variety of treatments. These may include scaling and root planing, antibiotics, or surgery, to help improve the health of your gums.
If you are in search of a trustworthy clinic to get treated for it, Ashraf Dentistry offers a number of periodontal treatments. Some include scaling, root planning, gingivectomy, and gingival plastic surgery (surgical removal of the gum tissue).
Cosmetic dentistry
Several cosmetic dental procedures can help to improve the appearance of your teeth and gums. These procedures may include veneers, bonding, crowns, etc. These can be easily done using CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics). CEREC is a technology that lets dentists create custom-made dental restorations, such as crowns, bridges, and veneers, in a single office visit.
The process typically involves using a digital scanner to create a 3D model of the tooth in question. The dentist uses computer-aided design (CAD) software to design the restoration based on the digital model. The restoration is then milled using a special machine and can be fitted and placed in the same visit. Ashraf Dentistry offers reliable CEREC Restorations. Ashraf Dentistry has an onsite CEREC milling machine that provides porcelain crowns, inlays, onlays, and bridges.
How to have a successful dry January
There are multiple benefits to doing a Dry January. It can help you save money by being able to skip on drunk-night Ubers, and also help you:
Plan ahead
If you know you will be attending social events where alcohol will be present, come up with a plan in advance for how you will handle the situation. This might involve bringing a non-alcoholic drink with you, volunteering to be the designated driver, or simply saying no to offers of alcohol.
Stay hydrated
Alcohol can cause dry mouth, increasing gum disease and tooth decay risk. Make sure you drink a lot of water to keep your mouth hydrated.
Practice good oral hygiene
Remember to maintain oral practices such as brushing and flossing your teeth regularly to get rid of bacteria as well as food particles that lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
Consider using a mouthwash
Mouthwash can kill bacteria in your mouth while also freshening your breath. Look for a mouthwash with fluoride to help strengthen tooth enamel.
Don’t neglect your dental appointments
It’s essential to continue seeing your dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings, even if you’re not drinking alcohol. This will help to ensure that your mouth stays healthy and that any issues are caught and treated early. In fact, starting the year with a professional dental cleaning sets the tone right for the rest of the year, and you are unlikely to resume drinking right after!
Get support
If you’re finding it tough to stick to your goal of not drinking alcohol, consider seeking support and help from friends, family, or a support group. Many online resources and apps are also available to help you stay on track.
Dental/oral hygiene takes a hit during the holidays as alcohol consumption skyrockets. But there are definitely ways around it. Dry January can be a way to begin your journey of weaning off of alcohol. Maintaining daily oral hygiene and keeping up with your dental appointments can help you combat the ill effects of alcohol and help you stay clean!
How to stick to your dental resolutions this year
Good dental care helps you stay fit and healthy by keeping bacteria under control. Proper oral hygiene not only keeps teeth or gum infections away but also reduces your risk of other diseases like cardiovascular disease or pneumonia. Yes, as unlikely as it seems, poor oral health contributes to these and many other ailments. Isn’t that a great reason to make dental hygiene your new year’s resolution? Here are a few dental tips to help you stick to your oral care resolutions this coming year.
Brush long enough
Did you know that just brushing twice a day is not enough? You must brush for a full two minutes to ensure that your oral hygiene is truly up to the mark. While brushing twice a day may not be a challenging goal to keep, ensuring the two-minute brushing routine can be difficult to maintain. A simple tip to stick to the two-minute brushing resolution is to get an electronic toothbrush with a buzzer inbuilt that tells you when the time is up. Otherwise, play a tune on your phone that lasts precisely two minutes when you start brushing.
Floss regularly
Flossing helps significantly in keeping gum disease at bay by eliminating bacteria that thrive under the gums. Keep in mind that gum disease, when left unchecked, can result in the loss of teeth. So, if you want to keep your teeth and avoid a painful infection that prevents you from enjoying the foods you love, you must keep up with your resolution to floss every day. Keep floss sticks in your bag, in your desk drawer, and, of course, by the sink at home so that you are reminded to do it all through the day and have no excuse to ‘miss.’ You can also experiment with different types of floss to make the boring oral hygiene activity more enjoyable.
Dairy for your teeth
Dairy products contribute a lot towards dental health. They also help with oral hygiene because more saliva is produced when you eat these products. This helps clean away the food particles and plaque left over or between teeth. A simple way to promote oral hygiene is to include enough dairy products at meal times. You can also carry packaged cheese, flavoured milk, or yoghurt to snack on in between meals instead of drinking extra coffee/ carbonated drinks or binging on sugary stuff when your stomach begins to rumble. Your teeth and your tummy will both thank you.
The right drinks
Are you careful about drinking only naturally sweetened drinks to safeguard your health? Well, even that isn’t helping your teeth. And if you love the citrus flavoured waters, then your teeth are in more trouble than you think. Both these have acid content that can wear down the tooth enamel. Don’t have too many of these drinks and if you do have either, give your teeth some time to recover. Drinking plenty of regular, plain water is a great way to maintain oral and overall health.
With these simple tips to keep your smile intact and beautiful, tackle your dental resolutions this year with aplomb.
Ashraf Dentistry wishes you a happy and healthy New Year with a smile that dazzles with health!
Will a healthier smile be part of your New Years resolution?
Everyone makes New Year’s resolutions to improve different aspects of their lives. New Year’s resolutions help us better ourselves and motivate us to keep good habits. Improving oral health can be an excellent way to start 2023. It not only makes us smile brighter but has other benefits as well.
The Importance of Making Your Smile a Priority
A beautiful smile is important but is not the only reason to maintain oral care. There are several other reasons to prioritize teeth, oral hygiene, and oral health. They are:
Stronger immune system
The immune system protects your body from disease-causing organisms. Germs and infections can grow faster in your mouth due to the frequent passage of food, drinks, medicines, and other items. It is essential to brush and floss regularly to prevent plaque accumulation and cavities, which can result in inflammation.
Improves confidence and self-esteem
Crooked, discolored, or cracked teeth can make you feel self-conscious when interacting with people. Proper oral hygiene will make you more confident in public interactions.
Health issues
Poor oral hygiene increases the risk of several serious diseases, like respiratory infections, heart disease, and diabetes. Frequent oral check-ups are also needed to identify issues like oral cancer.
Improves quality of life
Eating with friends and family is an integral part of our social lives. But this can get difficult when we have aching or crooked teeth. Making your oral health a priority can improve your mouth’s overall functionality, enhancing your quality of life.
Include these healthy-smile resolutions
Some New Year’s resolutions you can include the following:
Visit your dentist
Book dental check-ups and cleanings ahead of time, and visit your dentist at least twice a year.
Quit smoking
Smoking increases the risk of tooth loss and gum disease and makes tooth replacement harder.
Upgrade oral health tools
Upgrade dental hygiene tools like toothbrushes, tongue cleaners, and floss. Make a note in your calendar to change your toothbrush every 3-6 months. You can also try using electric toothbrushes.
Stay away from sugar
Sugary snacks and beverages can coat your teeth, causing cavities and tooth damage.
Be hydrated
Prevent your mouth from getting dry and becoming a hotbed for bacterial growth by drinking enough water.
Two and two
Maintain consistency brush and floss twice a day for two minutes. Use a timer to make sure you are brushing correctly.
Prevention and protection
Grinding and clenching can also cause tooth damage. To avoid these problems and protect your teeth, consider wearing a night guard or speaking with your dentist about Botox Therapeutics.
Healthy diet
Eat foods good for teeth and gums, like leafy vegetables, nuts, apples, pears, and cheese. Include calcium and protein in your diet.
Natural supplements
Consult with your dentist and include natural supplements and vitamins in your diet.
Make an on-the-go dental kit
Include oral hygiene products like floss, travel-size mouthwash, toothpaste, and lip balm in a mini dental kit for on-the-go use at your office or school.
Don’t delay! Start your healthy smile journey now
Although starting the New Year with a list of goals is exciting, you don’t have to wait until January 1st. Why not get ahead of the game and start working on oral health and oral hygiene now?
It is easy to ignore or put off dental treatments or procedures, but visiting your dentist early on is crucial. Prolonging dental treatments can worsen any dental issue you may have, like gum disease or a cavity. Many people also book dental appointments during the new year, so it may be challenging to get an appointment if you delay it too much. Getting the procedure done early is also better to give yourself ample time to heal.
Some services you can book to make your smile beautiful include:
Cosmetic dentistry
Using cosmetic dentistry, you can correct your tooth imperfections and improve your oral health. Most procedures have a short recovery time and long-lasting results with proper care.
All-on-4 dental implants
Implants preserve oral integrity and protect the jawbone from deterioration, enabling you to chew any food you want without worrying.
Professional teeth whitening
In this treatment, safe chemicals are used to make your teeth sparkly white without causing any damage to your oral health.
Botox Therapeutics
This is the best treatment for numerous issues like bruxism, TMJ disorders, and migraines/headaches. It works by blocking neurotransmitters causing muscle contractions.
Dental cleanings and fillings
This treatment can be used to prevent tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. It also removes stains and improves oral health.
Maintaining your oral health is vital to the overall health of your body. More than brushing and flossing daily is required to protect you from dental issues. You have to pay regular visits to your dentist for comprehensive oral health protection. Make a New Year resolution to visit your dentist regularly to keep your smile beautiful and healthy.
A smile makeover for the New Year
Many of us have suffered from some form of dental issue. Some of us may have even refrained from smiling to avoid others seeing our broken tooth. Today’s article will focus on the details of a smile makeover.
What is a smile makeover?
A smile makeover is a technique performed by a dentist to repair or alter your teeth’s appearance to make them look better and more youthful. It can correct missing teeth, misaligned or misshapen teeth, gaps, bite issues, yellowed or stained teeth, and a gummy smile. A patient can consider this treatment for numerous reasons:
- teeth are yellow or brown and look unclean even when they brush it
- teeth are cracked, chipped, or broken
- teeth are small, leading to a gummy smile
- problems with biting and chewing
- spaces and gaps around teeth
- low self-confidence, causing them to hide smiles
- assuming a position where a terrific smile is required
Cosmetic dentistry primarily concentrates on the size, shape, position, and alignment of your teeth and gums. Restorative dentistry focuses on restoring your teeth’ function and replacing damaged ones.
Which treatments are considered to be part of a smile makeover?
CEREC restorations
CEREC is a method that integrates a milling instrument, camera, and computer into one device to design and restore a damaged tooth. This cutting-edge technology eliminates the process of creating molds and waiting for temporary crowns. Depending on the individual case, most CEREC restoration procedures can be completed in a single visit to the dentist’s office.
Professional teeth whitening
Cosmetic dentists can accomplish this by using gels that have been particularly developed to penetrate the stained surface of your teeth. Always go to your dentist for a teeth-whitening procedure, and avoid whitening kits since they can irritate your gums and teeth. Not to mention, over-the-counter whitening kits are less effective.
Invisalign
It is a thin, transparent aligner that can fix issues like an open bite, a crossbite, an underbite, an overbite, crowded teeth, and gaps between teeth.
Implants
In an all-on-4 implant procedure, four implants are used to replace either the lower or upper set of teeth that are severely damaged, broken down, or compromised owing to gum issues. In single-tooth replacement, a dentist uses implants to replace a failing or missing tooth permanently.
Crowns and bridges
Crowns cover the visible tooth surface to strengthen or beautify the tooth, whereas bridges are used to replace lost teeth. They consist of false teeth attached to crowns on each side that serve as supports.
Dental bonding
This treatment improves your smile by using composite resin that is tooth-colored. This reversible procedure can be used to fix chips, fill in gaps, and alter a tooth’s shape and color.
Veneers
Veneers can cover up cracked teeth, gaps, and other flaws and improve the appearance of your teeth. These tiny casings are well glued to the enamel and mimic natural teeth’s color. Porcelain veneers solve tooth discoloration and minor cracks, in addition to other cosmetic problems with your smile.
Is a smile makeover worth the investment?
The worth of a smile makeover depends on various factors, including your financial condition, your time limits, and the amount of sacrifice you’re prepared to make for a more youthful appearance. It is worthwhile if you suffer from dental health issues, tooth decay, gum disease, TMD, TMJ pain, or even confidence issues due to bad teeth.
Benefits of a smile makeover include:
- improvement of your oral and overall general health
- smoother speech can be achieved through cosmetic dentistry treatments like porcelain veneers
- boosts your self-confidence
- boosts professional success
It is also vital to correct dental issues and imperfections without much delay. Putting them off can exacerbate the issue and even lead to severe ones. You may also need to spend more money to correct more significant issues. Dental problems can also increase the risk of a number of serious diseases, like respiratory infections, heart disease, and diabetes. So, a smile makeover will protect your overall health.
A smile makeover is an excellent procedure you can choose for the new year to improve your confidence and health. Contact Ashraf Dentistry today for a smile makeover.
Frequently Asked Questions On Invisalign
The Basics
What exactly is Invisalign? Would Invisalign be a great option for you? Let’s find out.
What Is Invisalign?
An Invisalign treatment is a process of straightening teeth using clear and removable aligners. Invisalign can gradually help you straighten your teeth. You won’t need to add brackets or wires, which you would’ve needed if you had opted for traditional metal braces.
What Does The Invisalign Treatment Consist Of? – The Process
For the Invisalign treatment, your dentist will create a digital treatment plan for you, where they’ll chart out your teeth’ movements. Then, Invisalign aligners will be designed for you, which will apply the correct force at the required places in your mouth. You will have an Invisalign doctor who will help you to monitor your aligners and ensure that the aligners are properly fitting.
Who Is A Candidate For Invisalign?
Invisalign aligners can be designed for adults as well as teens. With the help of Invisalign aligners, you can fix most kinds of teeth straightening as well as biting issues. A blue dot is also discreetly placed in the aligners for teens. This dot helps parents ensure that their children are indeed wearing the aligners.
The Details
Why should you get Invisalign aligners? What makes them perfect for you? Learn how Invisalign aligners can help you.
What Are The Main Advantages Of Invisalign?
Invisalign aligners are clear, and people you’re talking to won’t notice that you’re wearing aligners. You can easily remove the aligners when you’re eating or drinking or if you want to floss your teeth. Invisalign aligners also don’t come with metal wires or brackets, which would otherwise have irritated your mouth when you tried to speak.
Are The Aligners Comfortable?
The aligners are made using SmartTrack material, which has been patented by Invisalign. This makes the aligners very comfortable to wear, and the fit you’ll get will also be better suited to your teeth.
Will Invisalign Interfere With How I Speak?
Typically, in traditional metal braces, it’s the metal brackets and wires that interfere with how people speak. Since those are absent in Invisalign aligners, you won’t have any problems with speaking.
Will Invisalign Interfere With Eating My Favorite Foods? Or Chewing Gum?
Invisalign aligners can be easily removed, so you can eat whatever you want to. Simply take your aligners out, eat your favorite foods, and then place the aligners back in your mouth. Not only can you eat food like popcorn, but you’ll also be able to chew gum as well.
But don’t chew gum if you’re wearing your aligners, as the gum will stick to the aligners.
Will Invisalign Interfere With Drinking Coloured Or Warm Beverages?
In the same way, you should remove your aligners before you eat; it is best to remove your aligners before drinking anything other than water. You wouldn’t want your clear aligners to be stained by a colored beverage.
Will It Take Long To Achieve My Desired Results?
You’ll need to wear your Invisalign aligners for around twenty to twenty-two hours every day in order to see good results. Every case is different; however, you should begin to see results in a few weeks. Sometimes, it could take up to six months for you to complete your treatment.
What If I Smoke? Will It Ruin My Aligners?
It’s recommended that you don’t smoke while you wear these aligners. This is as cigarette smoke could cause the aligners to get stained yellow.
Maintenance
How Do I Clean The Aligners?
You’ll need to rinse your aligners using water every night. Using a toothbrush with soft bristles is recommended to clean your aligners. Make use of a liquid soap that is gentle and clear to clean your aligners thoroughly. After brushing it through, rinse it under the water.
What If I Want To Disinfect My Aligner?
To disinfect your aligners, place them in the tray and allow them to soak for at least thirty minutes. The tray should contain sterilizing solution. After thirty minutes, remove the aligners and rinse them under warm water. The disinfection solution should consist of equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and water.
What Are Some Invisalign Maintenance Tips?
Even when using Invisalign aligners, remember to brush and floss your teeth daily. Avoid eating foods that could get stuck in your teeth or drinking colored beverages that could stain your aligner. If you want to eat a meal, eat a snack or drink something, remove your aligners first.
Clean your aligners every night by leaving them in the tray for around three minutes. You can buy cleaning crystals from Invisalign that dissolve in water and contain cleaning agents.
After The Treatments, Is A Retainer Necessary?
It’s recommended that you wear your retainer even after your Invisalign treatment is over. This is as wearing a retainer will help keep your teeth beautifully straightened.
How Do I Maintain My Teeth During The Invisalign Process?
If there’s food that’s stuck in your teeth, then they can be seen through the aligners. So it would be best if you brushed your teeth after every meal, then you can put your aligners back on. Avoid wearing your aligners when you’re eating or drinking something.
Oral hygiene should be performed twice daily, including floss as well to remove food particles that could be stuck between your teeth. You should remove your aligners when brushing your teeth or flossing. Remember to clean your Invisalign trays regularly as well.
If you need braces but don’t want to lose your beautiful smile, then Invisalign aligners could be perfect for you. From why you should get Invisalign aligners to how to maintain them, this guide addresses commonly asked questions about Invisalign. Use this article as a guide to learn about Invisalign. Have more questions? Contact Ashraf Dentistry today!
Oral health tips to carry into the New Year
The new year is almost here, making it the perfect time to think about what healthy habits you should start including. Don’t forget about your oral health when adding healthy habits to your New Year’s resolutions list. Here are four healthy dental hygiene habits to add to your resolutions list for the new year. Remember to visit your dentist at least twice a year as well. Consider getting cleaning and fillings for your teeth or even undergoing a teeth whitening procedure. Some people may need the help of cosmetic dentistry as well.
Revamping Your Morning And Night Routine
If you want to maintain your oral health, then you’ll need to create a dental hygiene routine for yourself. Spend at least ten minutes in the morning, and ten minutes at night, on your routine. You should include two minutes devoted to brushing your teeth, two minutes for flossing, as well as one minute for cleaning your tongue. Then, you’ll need to use mouthwash as well.
One way you can make your dental hygiene routine more fun is by creating a music playlist that you can listen to while you care for your teeth. You can brush your teeth for the duration of a song, floss your teeth and clean your tongue over the next song. Adding your favorite songs to your dental hygiene routine makes caring for your oral health more fun. Cleaning your teeth properly helps reduce the need for professional cleaning and fillings.
Get Great Oral Hygiene Products
Before you buy your next toothpaste, check the label first. Does it contain fluoride? This is an essential ingredient in toothpaste. It helps strengthen parts of the tooth that are weak, as well as any exposed roots. It would be best if you also considered any dental conditions you might have. Do you have sensitive teeth? Then avoid toothpaste that’s meant for tooth whitening. You can also talk to your dentist about what products you should use on your teeth.
You can also find toothpaste dedicated to specific oral health purposes. There are those that are anti-plaque, which helps prevent the build-up of plaque in your teeth. You can find a toothpaste that allows you to whiten your teeth, especially for smokers. You can also get a tooth whitening treatment from a dentist.
You’ll also need to use mouthwash after you brush your teeth. Ideally, get the mouthwash that serves the same purpose as your toothpaste. For example, if you have sensitive teeth, try both toothpaste and mouthwash meant for people with sensitive teeth.
Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones
What you eat and snack on can have an impact on your teeth as well. When the food you eat is nutritious, your teeth will be stronger. Consider adding natural whole-food supplements to your diet. You can also take vitamins that help maintain oral health, such as vitamins D, C, and A. In addition to this, calcium and phosphorous supplements can also be beneficial for your teeth. With any nutritional supplement, it is best to speak with your dentist or physician first.
You should also drink more water. This could dry out your mouth if you aren’t drinking enough water. This, in turn, could lead to tooth and gum-related problems. Drinking at least eight tall glasses of water a day would be best. At the same time, your stress levels can also affect your oral health. You may forget to do your dental hygiene routine or skip it altogether when stressed out. Increased stress compromises your immune system and triggers the release of cortisol, the stress hormone. When your body has increased cortisol levels, this triggers increased protein production in the gums. This causes inflammation in the gums and also increases your chances of experiencing gum-related diseases, such as gingivitis.
To reduce stress in your life, adopt good habits such as meditation, yoga, as well as deep breathing. You could also pursue a new hobby, such as photography.
Keep in mind that when you don’t tackle your bad habits, you may need to invest in cosmetic dentistry later on.
Invest In Your Oral Health
You mustn’t avoid your dental cleaning and fillings. Schedule your dentist appointment ahead of time to ensure that you don’t forget at the last minute, and end up skipping them. Get dental cleanings and fillings, or do an annual teeth whitening procedure.
It would be best to visit your dentist at least twice a year. This applies even if you think there’s nothing wrong with your teeth. Getting a dental checkup can help the dentist to detect any signs of tooth or gum decay. When these problems are taken care of earlier, you’re less likely to suffer serious oral health problems later on.
As people age, the color of their teeth also changes. It gradually becomes more and more yellow. Smoking can significantly exacerbate this, but even drinking coffee can make your teeth yellow. To get rid of the yellow tinge, get professional teeth whitening done. When you book a professional teeth whitening treatment, you’ll get visibly better results than at-home treatments.
If you’re still unhappy with your smile, consider cosmetic dentistry. If you need braces, then investing in Invisalign can enable you to fix your teeth without losing your smile. When you invest in oral health, you ensure that your teeth stay healthy longer. When using Invisalign aligners, you avoid needing more complicated cosmetic dentistry procedures to correct your teeth. Avoid plaque-related issues, cavities, and the need for expensive dental treatments, by investing in your oral health today.
These four habits will help you to maintain excellent oral health in the coming year. You can smile brighter and feel confident when you have great oral health. From creating a dental hygiene routine to choosing the right toothpaste, this guide details what you should do to maintain your oral health this coming year.
Feeling under the weather? The 101 on caring for your oral health when your sick
It’s flu season, which means more people are about to deal with stuffy noses, congestion, fever, and more. Even if you happen to fall sick, that doesn’t mean that you should ignore your oral hygiene. Which leads to the question, how can you maintain good oral health if you’re down with the flu?
If you are experiencing issues with your teeth, such as increased sensitivity, when you have the flu, you’ll need to visit a dentist. A specialist in pediatric dentistry can be beneficial for your child. You can also ask your dentist for dental cleanings, as these can keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright.
How Colds and the Flu Affect Oral Health
Breathing through your nose may be challenging when you have a cold or the flu. This is due to congestion. When this happens, you’re more likely to try to breathe out of your mouth. This is bad for oral health, as it could dry your mouth. Saliva is needed to fight off bacteria as well as get rid of food debris. When you have a dry mouth, this dramatically increases your chances of experiencing tooth decay.
If you’re sick, you should also keep yourself well-hydrated. Some decongestants, antihistamines, and painkillers can make your mouth dry out. This is why you should take extra care to stay hydrated. You may also notice a weird taste in your mouth when you have a cold. At these times, you can get bad breath as well.
This is due to the post-nasal drip or the excess mucus leaking down your throat. Bacteria can multiply easily in such environments, which can cause bad breath. To get rid of this kind of bad breath, you’ll need to brush and floss your teeth, even if you feel sick. Speaking of bacteria, they also love the sugar that’s present in food, cough drops, and sweets. Make sure that the cough syrup you choose is sugar-free to ward off bacteria in your mouth.
You could also find yourself vomiting if you have the flu. When you vomit, food debris may be left behind in your mouth. Vomit also hastens tooth decay and can have a negative effect on your oral health. If you do find yourself vomiting, then use mouthwash afterward.
Did You Know Cold And Flu Remedies Can Affect Your Teeth?
If you have a cold or the flu, then you can find yourself taking the following medicines:
- Cough drops and lozenges
- Cough and decongestive syrups
- Sugar filled beverages
- Antacids
These can affect your oral health in various ways. Cough drops and lozenges are made of sugar. These can cause tooth decay. This is why you should limit how many cough drops you take in a day and ensure that you don’t keep them on your tongue for too long.
Both colds, as well as the flu, increase the amount of mucus your body produces. Therefore, it may make it difficult for you to breathe. Decongestants can be super helpful, as they can dry out the sinuses. However, decongestants and cough syrup can also cause dry mouth. If the saliva production in the mouth is reduced, the growth of bacteria in your mouth can increase. This can increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
Sugar-filled beverages are loaded with sugar, and oral bacteria love to feast on this sugar. If the beverage is acidic, such as orange juice, it can affect your tooth enamel. Sugar-filled beverages can also make your teeth more susceptible to cavities.
Antacids can wreak havoc on your teeth as well and cause tooth decay. They lower the production of saliva in your mouth. When your mouth is dry, bacteria can run rampant in your mouth more easily. Avoid antacids that have sugar.
Maintaining Oral Hygiene When Under The Weather
Taking care of your oral health is essential, even if you feel under the weather. But once you recover, you should replace the oral hygiene tools you’ve been using. This means getting a new toothbrush, tongue scraper, and anything else you may have used when you were sick. Should you use mouth guards, retainers, or other kinds of oral appliances, then these should be cleaned thoroughly. They should also be disinfected before you put them in your mouth again.
Remember to use salt water to rinse and gargle your mouth after you recover. If you need to take cough drops, then these should be sugar-free. You can drink electrolyte beverages as well as fruit juices, but ensure that these are sugar-free. Most importantly, it would be best if you stay hydrated at all times. When you have good saliva production in your mouth, you prevent harmful oral bacteria from growing there.
You may not want to consider maintaining your oral health when you’re sick. But if you don’t practice good dental hygiene, even when you’re sick, this could cause your teeth to decay. Ensure that you visit a dentist for a thorough dental cleaning at least twice a year, especially after you have recovered from the flu. This guide details everything you need to know about practicing good oral hygiene if you have a cold or the flu.
Protecting your smile for the holidays
Ashraf Dentistry weighs in on four tips to protect your smile this holiday. (Source: WebMD, 4 Tips to Protect Your Holiday Smile, by Jodi Helmer, Medically Reviewed by Eric Yabu, DDS, August 19, 2014, https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/holiday-smile ).
Jodi Helmer believes that consuming sweets during the festive period does not necessarily mean dental cavities going ahead. Jodi Helmer has listed four tips for protecting dental health during the holidays, and Ashraf Dentistry agrees. Ashraf Dentistry shares, “sweets during the holidays aren’t the most harmful thing for your teeth. What’s harmful is not taking the right steps to protect them.”
- Avoid excessive sweet consumption
Helmer says that the combination of the holidays and sweet mouthfuls is great until too much of those sweet mouthfuls result in increased teeth sensitivity and pain. Ashraf Dentistry shares, “sugar consumption is associated with increased acid levels in the mouth. Also, bacteria feed on sugar, and bacteria festering inside the mouth can lead to rapid tooth decay.”
According to Helmer, limiting your sweet intake is the best way to avoid all that sugar wreaking havoc inside your mouth. Ashraf Dentistry suggests, “it’s best to steer clear of sugary sweets altogether and instead opt for sugar-free alternatives. People should also stick to single desserts after meals followed by a thorough 2-minute brushing session.”
- Eat nuts with care
Next, Helmer goes on to talk about the importance of taking care when eating nuts. According to Helmer, many people prefer cracking nut shells with their mouths but end up damaging their teeth. Ashraf Dentistry shares, “nut shells can be incredibly hard to crack open using teeth, and it’s best to use a nutcracker for the job.”
In the article, Helmer quotes Columbia University College of Dental Medicine professor Steven Chussid. Chussid warns that all it takes is one poor decision to damage the teeth and create the need to visit a dentist.
- Maintain a healthy routine
In the third point, Helmer stresses the need to brush twice daily. Ashraf Dentistry shares, “it can be difficult to maintain a routine during the holiday season due to the daily festivities. However, not maintaining one can significantly raise the risks associated with tooth decay and enamel erosion.” Helmer also points out that keeping a toothbrush and toothpaste handy for on-the-go brushes is a good idea.
Additionally, Ashraf Dentistry recommends “each brushing session must be at least 2 minutes long. This gives toothpaste the time to work its magic and eliminate stains and bacteria.” The last thing you would want after the expenses of the holiday season is to spend money on avoidable cleanings and fillings.
- Don’t ignore appointments
Routine dental exams may be voluntary, but you can consider them mandatory to maintain good dental health and hygiene. This is what Helmer has to say in the third point.
Ashraf Dentistry shares, “routine dental exams can help identify minor issues, so you can take the appropriate steps to resolve them before they become major problems.”
In addition to Helmer’s points, Ashraf Dentistry also expresses, ” thankfully; there are many wonderful innovative dental solutions in the event of a dental issue. Suppose you want to correct your oral health issues before the New Year. In that case, you may want to inquire about and consider CEREC® Restorations, which are beneficial for people needing crowns, implants, inlays, onlays, partial crowns, and veneers. Botox Therapeutics can be effective in avoiding headaches and migraines arising from teeth clenching and grinding issues. Although festivities are a priority, don’t forget about your oral health this season.”
