Your teeth are such an important part of your body and it pays to take good care of them for looking and feeling great. You need them to smile, chew and talk so how do we keep them in tip top condition?
More and more adults are looking at their teeth and the way in which they smile and turning to treatments such as those offered by a Cardiff Invisalign like https://cathedraldentalclinic.com/orthodontics-cardiff/invisalign-cardiff/. Once you have the perfect smile, you will want to continue to look after your teeth and keep them sparkly white.
Here are some handy hints:
- The White Teeth Diet
One of the easiest ways to clean up your act is to think about what you could be eating and drinking that is causing your teeth to stain. Things like red wine, tea and smoking can all make our pearly whites appear not so white, as can coffee, some soft drinks and gravy. The best way to avoid staining is to brush your teeth thoroughly after consuming such items and use a toothpaste with a whitening agent. Apples are a great, healthy snack and perfect for cleaning teeth at the same time.
- Tongue Scrubbing
Did you know you should also be cleaning your tongue? A tongue scraper can be used both morning and night to rid your tongue of plaque and help freshen breath. Bacteria lurking on your tongue is one of the major contributing factors in bad breath. A specially designed scraper is much more effective than simply trying to brush your tongue.
- Buy a Toothbrush
If you’re using your toothbrush for months on end, chances are all you’re doing is transforming bacteria back and forth between your brush and mouth. Using a circular motion when brushing is also more effectively than a backwards and forwards action. Hold your toothbrush like a pencil so as not to press too hard and replace your toothbrush regularly or get a replacement head for an electric brush at least every couple of months. Regular visits to your hygienist will also help to keep your teeth sparkling and healthy.
- Foods That Clean
We’ve already mentioned apples but any food that feels crisp and firm when you eat it will help to clean teeth. These foods include celery, raw carrots and unsweetened popcorn. Save these cleaning foods until last if you know you won’t be able to brush straight after eating.
- Baking Soda
Brushing teeth with baking soda once a week is useful for whitening teeth and removing stains. Simply use it as you would a normal toothpaste. Did you know you can also use salt to help with whitening, just try not to swallow it!
- Twice A Day
The optimum times for brushing are when you first get up in the morning and just before going to bed at night. Saliva acts to protect teeth from bacteria so when saliva dries up at night, it’s best to have brushed off excess plaque before going to bed. First thing in the morning is the perfect time to rid your mouth of any plaque and bacteria that does build up during the night. It’s also good for eliminating morning breath!