How Do I Keep My Teeth Healthy Between Visits?

Scheduling regular visits with your dentist every six months is an important part of maintaining your oral health. It’s also of the utmost importance that you make sure that you’re doing everything you can to keep your teeth healthy between visits. How do you accomplish this? There a few steps you can take between dentist visits to help keep your smile white, your breath fresh, and your teeth healthy. Here are some steps you can take to help you maintain your smile between visits to your dentist.

Drink Tap Water

Tap water contains a small amount of fluoride, which aids in remineralizing your teeth’s enamel, providing your teeth the protection it needs to fight bacteria and decay.

Brush Your Teeth For At Least Two Minutes

When brushing your teeth, don’t speed through the process. It’s recommended that you brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day along with flossing. Time yourself to make sure you’re doing it for the required amount of time. If you start to feel antsy and need help passing the time, try playing a song or podcast.

Try Chewing Sugarless Gum

Although regular chewing gum does help make your breath fresh, it can also feed sugar to bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria can then produce decay-causing acids. Chewing sugarless gum instead of its more sugary counterpart can improve your breath and curb your appetite for something sweet without any of the bad stuff.  Clinical studies have shown that chewing ADA approved sugarless gum for 20 minutes following a meal increases the flow of saliva, which washes away food and other particles, neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in your mouth, and provides your entire mouth with substances that help fight disease.

Stay Vigilant In Fighting Oral Health

We can provide you with preventive, restorative, and other dentistry services to protect your smile. Contact us at our local Ankeny, IA office today at 515-963-3339.