Four simple steps to healthier teeth and gums

1. Clean your teeth twice a day using a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste
   It doesn’t take long for plaque and tartar to accumulate on your teeth. Plaque is the sticky film containing bacteria which develops on the surface of teeth, and is by and large responsible for tooth decay. The bacteria within the plaque produce acids which attack the tooth surface, leading to decay. Chemicals within the plaque can also irritate the gums. Brushing helps to scrub the plaque from the surface of your teeth before it builds up and hardens into tartar, which can no longer be removed with normal brushin
   
   Using a soft-bristled brush allows for gentler cleaning on your gums and, prevents hard abrasive actions that can damage the tooth surface, while a small head on your toothbrush will allow you to reach those ‘hard to get to places’.
   
   Don’t forget to change your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months or as soon as the brush looks more like a “shaggy dog” than a toothbrush. Worn-out bristles simply don’t clean as well. Using a fluoridated toothpaste also helps to increase your teeth’s resistance to decay
2. Floss between your teeth once a day to prevent build-up of food and plaque
   Flossing is essential to removing food debris and plaque that gets stuck in the spaces between your teeth. If plaque and food debris are not removed, the acid attack can occur uninterrupted in-between your teeth and progress undetected for some time. . Flossing will help get to those hard-to-reach areas that your toothbrush cannot access. Flossing is recommended at least once a day, 
3. Limit the intake of food and drinks high in sugar
   The bacteria in plaque love to feed on sugars, and the more sugar you eat, the more plaque that forms on your teeth. If the plaque is not removed, the bacteria present continue to feed on the sugars with each intake of food. This continuous feeding of the bacteria leads to continuous production of acids which attack teeth. The chemicals in saliva help to balance the acids somewhat and offer some protection to teeth, however where sugars are eaten frequently, you end up with a prolonged acidic environment in which your teeth remain under attack. This is the perfect environment for decay. It is best therefore to reduce the frequency of snacking on sugary food and drink and reduce to reduce the constancy of acid attacks.
4. Visit your dentist for a check-up and clean every six months
   Visiting your dentist for a regular oral examination every six months is essential for monitoring your teeth and gums for any anomalies and underlying dental problems. Spotted early, most dental issues can be resolved with minimally invasive treatments. Preventive dental check-ups are important for identifying and addressing problems at their early stages before they develop into major issues like chronic gum disease and severe tooth decay.

Coupled with professional cleaning, regular dental visits will make sure that your teeth and gums receive periodic deep cleaning that removes stubborn plaque and stains that normal brushing and flossing are unable to. 

Looking for a dentist to help you maintain a healthy smile? Pacific Smiles Dental has made it easy for you to book an appointment with one of our dentists online.