9 Tips to Keeping Your Smile Looking Great

It is no secret that Americans care about how their smile looks. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), more than half of people in the United States who are over 50 believe that their smiles stay attractive as they age. This is a good thing because at least 96% of adults around the country think that it is an important feature for a person’s romantic life. Despite all of this, many people do not go to their general dentist as often as they should. Here are some tips to keeping your teeth looking great.

1. Brush your teeth every day. All general dentists recommend people brush their teeth at least twice a day. It is important to keeping the teeth healthy and looking great. If you can, you should shoot for brushing after all of your meals and snacks. If you cannot brush your teeth every time you eat, rinsing with water can also help.
2. Brush your tongue when you brush your teeth. Your tongue is a great place for bacteria to live. When you brush your teeth, take some time to brush your tongue. Brush in long strokes from the back to the front. Rinse your brush between strokes to make sure you are not just moving the bacteria from one part of your tongue to another. This bacteria can be very bad for your gums and your teeth.
3. Change out your toothbrush. Most people do not change out their toothbrushes as recommended by the general dentist. Once the bristles get worn down, it becomes harder for the to do their job of cleaning your teeth. Watch the bristles or, at the very least, change out your toothbrush every three months.
4. Floss on a regular basis. Adding flossing to your oral hygiene regimen will make a big difference in keeping the level of plaque down and to keep your gums as healthy as possible. It has been estimated that at last 47.2% of people over 30 have some form of periodontal disease. Flossing is a good way to prevent that.
5. Use a good mouthwash. A decent mouthwash can add a lot to the cleanliness of your mouth and help keep your gums and teeth as healthy as possible, say experts in general dentistry. After you have brushed, flossed and brushed your tongue, finish your regimen with some good mouthwash.
6. Rinse your mouth after some foods and beverages. Red wine, beets, coffee are all very good at staining your teeth. The same holds true for marinara sauce and other darker foods and beverages. If you do not want to give these up but want a winning smile, rinse your mouth (or brush your teeth) after you consume them to keep them from staining your teeth.
7. Eat the right kinds of foods. Dairy products are good for your teeth because of all of the calcium. Raw veggies are good because they can clean your teeth as you bite down on them. Drinking tap water can help because most areas add fluoride. What you eat and drink can impact your oral health. Eating a generally healthy diet will show in the health of your smile.
8. Chew sugar free gum. This may seem to be counterintuitive but one factor in tooth decay is a dry mouth. When you chew sugar free gum, you encourage your mouth to produce more saliva, which can keep the bacterial count down and reduce the amount of tooth decay that you experience. If you find that you have a dry mouth, chewing sugar free gum can make a big difference that you should notice right away.
9. See your dentist as recommended. Most general dentists recommend people go in for a cleaning and dental check up once every six months. Most people do not do this. It has been estimated that the average person waits about three years between dental cleanings. It is important to see your general dentist as recommended because they can get your teeth much cleaner than you can at home but they can also spot problem areas before they get to be really big issues.

Everyone wants to have healthy teeth and a good looking smile. If you follow these tips, you should be able to achieve both.

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