Healthy Teeth: The Ultimate Guide To Healthier Teeth
Look, we get it: Keeping up with our dentist's recommendations for healthy teeth isn’t always fun. But maintaining strong oral hygiene habits is crucial for lifelong healthy teeth.
A recent study showed that even medical students demonstrating their dental hygiene methods to researchers weren’t employing proper brushing techniques when brushing their teeth. Dental hygienists stress the importance of proper brushing methods to their patients. But still, many people are looser with their commitment to their teeth.
When we don’t take care of our teeth, it can lead to considerable damage to our overall health. Motivation is just as important as brushing technique, and we’ve found that when trying a new product that is effective and successful at keeping our mouths clean, we’re more likely to maintain our newfound vigor for dental happiness.
We don’t want to brag, but we know a thing or two about what it takes to have healthy teeth. Here’s Bite’s take on best practices for happy chompers.
What Do Healthy Teeth Look Like?
Thankfully, there are a few things we can look for to determine if our teeth are healthy or not. Depending on diet and daily habits, dental health may need to take top priority.
These are a few of the signs that you have healthy teeth:
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Strong, Pink Gums: One of the tell-tale signs of a healthy mouth is how healthy gums look. Healthy gums are indicative of a healthy mouth overall. If gums look reddish or white and not the typical pink hue, something probably isn’t right. Having unhealthy gums comes with many health risks like tooth decay, gum infection, or even heart disease.
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No Blood After Brushing: There should be no blood any time after flossing or brushing our teeth. That’s right: There should be no blood whatsoever. Healthy gums don’t bleed easily or often. It’s a good idea to consult with a dentist if the bleeding is consistent because it may indicate an underlying issue (or you may be brushing way too hard).
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Sturdy Teeth: Sturdy teeth stay in place and don’t wiggle when you try to move them. Healthy teeth are strong and sturdy when they’re properly cared for. If teeth are wiggling, they could be a sign of developing gum issues. It’s best to consult a dentist if this persists.
- No Breath Odor: Healthy mouths have an odorless breath. Someone who is brushing, flossing, and rinsing their mouth properly will likely have neutral-smelling breath at any given time. If your mouth has a consistent odor, it may be a sign of tooth decay.
Products To Stay Away From
It’s always the guilty pleasures we love the most that are the absolute worst for us. Go figure.
When it comes to good oral health, these are the things to avoid for healthy, clean teeth. It can be challenging, especially for those of us with a sweet tooth. But stay strong, because too much of any of these is guaranteed to have negative effects on teeth.
These are some things we like to avoid to keep our teeth happy and healthy:
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Sticky Sweets: Candies and sticky foods easily attach to our teeth and can cause issues when they get stuck. Sticky candy is difficult to remove from the crevices and crannies between teeth, so eating candy especially isn’t recommended for elderly people, children, and people with weaker enamel who don’t want tooth breakage. There’s no shame in having a sweet tooth. Just cut back on the candy!
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Soda: Because of its high amounts of sugar and carbonation, soda is another product we should steer clear of if we want healthy teeth. If consumed too much, soda can wear down tooth enamel.
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Smoking: Smoking can wreak havoc on teeth and gums. People who smoke but also want healthy teeth will need to reconsider their smoking habits; truthfully, it’s best to just quit altogether. Smoking yellows teeth, causes chronic bad breath, and, in general, is just not great for overall health.
Brushing is the front line assault on the bacteria that creates plaque, and will counteract most of the adverse short-term effects of these “bad actors.”
Sometimes a slip-up can happen, but overall, it’s important to be consistent about moderation. A soda here and there won’t ruin the chances of achieving better dental hygiene, but it’s important to understand some of the effects that these products can have with long-term use.
3 Healthy Habits For Healthy Teeth
Healthy habits are the first step to maintaining healthy teeth. Consistently taking care of our teeth every day can change not just our smiles but our lives, too.
These three healthy habits will help you take charge of your oral hygiene:
Floss Daily
It’s essential to floss daily, and it’s even better to do so twice per day. Flossing helps remove pieces of food stuck in between teeth, helping protect gums from bacteria.
Plaque that isn’t removed from your teeth can build up and solidify into a hard off-white crust called tartar. A visit to a dental hygienist is required to remove tartar safely and effectively.
It can seem like a tedious task, especially right before bed when all you want to do is flop down and pass out. But flossing makes a huge impact on long-term oral health.
When we floss, we’re setting ourselves up for healthy teeth. Not many people in the U.S. floss their teeth, but hopefully, this will continue to change. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agrees that flossing is an important aspect of oral health.
Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day
Brushing is important because it’s the best way to protect teeth from staining, tooth loss, infection, and diseases, including cavities, periodontitis, and gingivitis. Brushing teeth removes food particles, plaque build-up and prevents the appearance of stains from developing on teeth among a host of other more nefarious issues.
Most dentists recommend using an electric toothbrush for the most effective brushing and best long-term results. An electric toothbrush does most of the work, using vibrating power to dig into plaque along the gum line.
When using a manual toothbrush, make sure to hit all spots inside the mouth, especially the hard-to-reach spots. Brush in circular and downwards motions. This rids the gums of plaque and the bacteria that cause plaque. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends replacing a manual toothbrush and electric brush head every three months.
It’s recommended to brush teeth for at least two minutes per day, twice per day. It’s ideal to brush teeth after waking up and right before bed. Our mouths can dry out during the night and leave us with bad breath, but removing tartar and build-up that has gathered there throughout the day will help alleviate this.
Use Mouthwash
Using mouthwash once per day is another healthy habit to practice. We won’t go too deep into the glories of mouthwash. And it should be noted that while mouthwash removes bacteria, it doesn’t kill all bacteria because not all bacteria are bad for your mouth. Certain mouthwashes use natural ingredients with the goal of protecting your mouth from bad breath and cavity-causing bacteria.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Mouth rinses, fluoride toothpaste, and daily flossing aren't the only ways to promote healthy teeth and overall good oral hygiene. A balanced diet is key to a healthy smile. Focus on healthy foods, and stay away from added sugars. Fruit juices (or any juice with added sugar) tend to do more harm to us than good due to their sugary recipes, and alcohol can increase the risk for oral cancer.
Bite Creates Healthy Habits
At Bite, we believe the products we use every day should be better for our bodies and for the planet. That’s why all of our oral care products are made with clean, natural ingredients that strengthen your teeth. Forget the plastic packaging, animal testing, and harmful chemicals – Bite cleans teeth with sustainability in mind. Always.
Sources:
Oral Hygiene Practices and Teeth Cleaning Techniques Among Medical Students | NCBI
