It’s never too late to start taking care of your teeth. While there is always the potential for accidents to happen that damage your teeth, your oral health is almost entirely in your own hands. Taking care of your teeth and gums will improve your chances of building a bright, healthy smile that can last you a lifetime.

Here is a list of the top 5 things you can do to improve your chances of keeping your natural teeth for life.

1. Brush twice a day

This is possibly the most important thing you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Brush your teeth first thing in the morning and before going to bed at night. Make the most out of your efforts by brushing properly. Use a fluoride toothpaste, and brush for two minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush, spending about 30 seconds cleaning each quadrant of your mouth.

2. If you can’t brush, rinse

In an ideal world, you’d always have a toothbrush handy to brush your teeth after you eat to wash away the food particles and acids from your teeth before they get caught or start to cause decay. But we all live busy lives, and that’s just not realistic. Consider keeping a small bottle of mouthwash in your car or workplace to have a quick rinse after lunch. If there’s no mouthwash around, rinsing with water is still better than nothing.

3. Floss every day

Flossing your teeth helps clean in areas that are hard to reach with a brush. It also stimulates your gums, preventing gum disease from starting. Sometimes flossing isn’t convenient, but you can help make it easier by leaving floss in areas where you spend a lot of time. Consider keeping some in your TV room at home so you can floss while you’re on the couch in the evening. It only takes a minute or two and it can make a world of difference.

4. Regular dental visits

Nobody’s perfect, and even if you brush and floss regularly, you can still develop tooth decay. The best way to stop small problems from developing into big problems is by seeing your dentist in North Richmond Hill regularly. They’ll clean your teeth properly and take regular x-rays to check out what’s happening beneath the gumline.

5. Be mindful of what you put in your body

The foods and drinks you consume can have a big impact on your oral health. Reach for water instead of pop or juice and try to avoid sugary or acidic foods. Keep in mind that both coffee and wine will stain your teeth over time, so if the colour of your teeth is a major concern of yours, consider limiting your intake of these two beverages.

Following these tips can help you build a healthy smile that lasts well into your senior years. If you’re ready for a professional cleaning and assessment of the current state of your mouth, call the team at Yonge Star Dental to set up an appointment today.