Want to keep your smile healthy and bright? It’s easier than you think! In addition to regular preventive dentistry appointments, practicing the right daily habits to prevent tooth decay and gum disease can help you avoid cavities, bleeding gums, and bad breath.
One of the easiest and best ways to protect your smile is through routine dental visits with Gary Horblitt, D.D.S., in Fairfield, CT. So, don’t wait until you have a problem – call (203) 335-1011 to keep issues at bay!
In this post, Dr. Horblitt explores five simple habits you can start today for a lifetime of healthier teeth and gums. Let’s dive in!
1. Brush Twice a Day, Every Day
Brushing your teeth is the foundation of good oral health. It removes plaque, food particles, and bacteria. Always brush in the morning and before bed for two full minutes.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and an enamel-repairing toothpaste with ingredients like fluoride or nano-hydroxyapatite. Be sure to clean all surfaces of your teeth, and clean your tongue, too! Brushing your teeth and scraping your tongue are two of the easiest daily habits to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
2. Floss Once a Day
Flossing gets rid of food and plaque trapped between teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach. Skipping this step can lead to gum disease, cavities, and bad breath.
Make flossing a daily habit. Whether you use string floss, floss picks, or a water flosser, the goal is the same – clean those tight spaces! It’s one of the most powerful daily habits to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
3. Rinse With Mouthwash
Mouthwash helps kill bacteria and freshen your breath. Look for one that contains fluoride and is alcohol-free. Rinsing after brushing and flossing gives your mouth extra protection.
Mouthwash can also reach areas your brush or floss may miss. This makes it one of the most underrated daily habits to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Plus, your mouth will feel extra clean!
4. Choose Healthy Snacks and Drinks
What you eat matters. Sugary snacks and drinks give the bacteria that cause decay and gum disease the fuel they need to survive. Additionally, sticky treats like candy and dried fruit can cling to your teeth for hours, which feeds those pesky germs and creates more problems.
Instead, choose crunchy veggies, cheese, nuts, and water. These help clean your teeth and protect enamel. If you can’t brush your teeth after eating, pop a piece of xylitol gum in your mouth. Studies indicate that xylitol gum can keep bad oral bacteria at bay.
Healthy eating is a smart way to support your daily habits to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
5. Stay Hydrated Throughout the Day
Drinking water isn’t just good for your body – it’s great for your teeth, too! Water helps move food particles to your stomach and keeps your mouth moist. This helps fight off bacteria naturally.
Choose water over soda or juice, especially between meals. Sipping water regularly supports all your other daily habits to prevent tooth decay and gum disease and keeps your mouth happy.
Keep Smiling with Gary Horblitt, D.D.S., in Fairfield, CT
Your smile deserves daily care, and these five daily habits to prevent tooth decay and gum disease are simple, effective, and easy to start. So, brush, floss, rinse, snack smart, and drink water.
Need a little extra help? Gary Horblitt, D.D.S., is always here to support you. So, let’s keep that smile shining brightly – request a visit with our dentist in Fairfield, CT, online, or call our office at (203) 335-1011 for assistance.
