6 Tips for Keeping a Healthy Smile (and reducing heart disease risk)

Contributed by Ryan Peterson.

When it comes to your oral health, it’s something that you don’t want to ever neglect. Our pearly whites are more important to us than you may think. If we get an infection in our mouth, there’s a chance that it can spread to the rest of the body. Multiple studies have shown a strong association between oral health and heart disease. In general, having a healthy mouth is very important and it truly can affect multiple aspects of your health.

Here are some dental care tips to ensure that you have a healthy smile.

Brush and floss every day

Since you were a child, you were told to brush every day, twice a day. We already know to brush once in the morning and once at night. But plenty of people neglect to floss. Flossing is so important as it removes plaque from spots your toothbrush can’t reach. Plaque can eventually lead to tooth decay if you’re not careful, but it can even lead to gum disease as well as cardiovascular problems.

Have a healthy diet

You already know that sugar isn’t the best for your teeth. A healthy diet is wonderful for your mental health, physical health, as well as your oral health. Good nutrition is going to build strong bones and teeth. Fruits and vegetables are quite chewy which helps the production of saliva. Saliva helps in cleaning out the mouth naturally. You can utilize both a nutritionist to help you get on track with a balanced diet as well as one of the many nutrition apps available to maintain positive changes (ie a food diary).  

Be confident

Never be afraid to show your smile, and don’t be afraid to show your teeth! Big smiles showing your teeth signify how happy you are!  However, it’s completely understandable if you’re self-conscious of your smile due to gaps or your teeth being a bit crooked. Thankfully there is a teeth straightener out there that many use. This can boost your confidence so you won’t be afraid to smile.

Avoid chewing on hard foods

Hard foods or other hard items have the potential to damage your teeth. Avoid chewing on the ice, hard candy, fingernails, or anything else that’s hard.

Regularly switch out your toothbrush

Not only should you store your toothbrush in an upright position to make sure that no leftover toothpaste or gunk is in the toothbrush, but you should regularly switch out your toothbrush. Ideally, every 90 days you get a new toothbrush replacement. This will help in making sure that there isn’t any old build-up in the toothbrush. The same can be said every time you get sick with the flu, it’s best to just switch out your toothbrush.  If you’re worried about being eco-friendly, don’t worry! You can use bamboo toothbrushes or even give your old toothbrush a second life by using them for cleaning hard-to-reach spaces.

See a dentist twice a year

Just like you need regular checkups with your doctor, you need to see a dentist to maintain and/or improve your oral health. It’s best to try and see your dentist twice a year. Your dentist is trained to recognize the signs of tooth decay, gum diseases, as well as other severe oral issues. By visiting your dentist twice a year, you reduce your risk for severe oral-related complications and health issues. Preventive care is also far more affordable than treatments.