See how Your Pediatric Dentist in San Antonio Works with You to Reach Your Dental Goals
The start of a new year is the perfect time to commit to some new goals. This year, start to consider some dental health resolutions to add to your self-care routine. Whether it’s flossing daily or even whitening your smile, take this opportunity to examine your own dental health so you can pass these healthy habits down to your kids! Check out these suggestions below to get some ideas on how you can improve your oral health this year.
Consistent Dental Care is Key
When determining your dental health goals, let’s start with the basics: brushing and flossing. While this may seem like common sense, you should be consistently caring for your smile daily. Sometimes it may be easier to just go to bed without brushing your teeth, or to skip flossing if you feel like you don’t need it, but don’t underestimate the power of plaque!
We know how important it is for kids to brush their teeth, so why wouldn’t parents do the same thing? Don’t let your smile falter while you’re encouraging your children’s smiles to grow.
The difference between a healthy smile and a smile with gum disease is consistency. It’s recommended that you brush your teeth twice per day with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Floss once per day before you go to bed to
remove any food debris and bacteria from between your teeth. Plaque is always
hiding in your smile, even if you don’t feel it. If plaque sits in place, it
hardens and becomes tartar. Over time, tartar can be extremely damaging to your
teeth and gums. Be consistent with your dental care to ensure that you have a
healthy smile!
Choose the Right Snacks
Choose healthy foods and drinks to protect your smile from damage. Anything that is too acidic or contains too much sugar can break down your enamel. The weakening of the enamel can lead to cavities and dental disease for people of all ages, so it’s best to avoid harmful foods altogether. Instead, try chewing on some crunchy vegetables like carrots or cucumbers. These types of foods can help keep your teeth and gums clean and may wash away some plaque in between brushing. Of course, eating vegetables is helpful for your dental health, but it is no replacement for actual dental care. Still brush regularly and visit your dentist every six months.
Visit the Dentist Regularly
You should be visiting our office every six months for a professional dental cleaning and checkup, just like your child does. If you can’t remember the last time you visited, give us a call! No matter how well you care for your smile, you can’t remove tartar without the help of a dental health professional. Tartar must be removed through the process of scaling; which your dental hygienist does every time you visit them for a cleaning. Every smile is unique, so it’s important to understand the needs of your teeth and gums.
While gum disease is often common in people
with poor oral hygiene, it can still occur due to genetics or even due to
medications or pregnancy. While you’re here, ask us for some tips on how to
care for your individual smile.
Improve Your Smile
If you’ve always been self-conscious of your
smile for any reason, it’s possible that one of your goals could be to correct
this issue! Whether you have crooked teeth, discoloration, or even gaps in your
smile, we can guide you on treatments that can give you the smile of your
dreams! Don’t keep pushing off your smile goals until next year, tackle your
insecurities head on. Ask our team how we can help you improve the appearance
of your smile. Whether you need braces or teeth whitening, the smile you’ve
always wanted is within reach!