Do you want to improve your oral health but don’t have an idea of where to start? Here are some tips that will help you create and personalize your very own oral health plan:
Understand your own oral health needs
Next time you visit the dentist, talk with him or her about your specific oral health needs. They can give you tips and tell you more about specific issues in your mouth and how to improve your dental hygiene to most effectively benefit your oral health.
Follow a daily oral health routine
Create a health routine for yourself that is easy to follow from day-to-day. A plan that’s too complicated may not allow you to be successful. Start small – start with the essentials – and work up to a more complex daily dental hygiene routine.
Use fluoride
A common myth says that only children can get their teeth strengthened with fluoride, but this is false. Both children and adults benefit from the strengthening of enamel that takes place with the use of fluoride.
Examine your mouth regularly
Become familiar with your mouth and teeth and their regular appearance. Knowing what your mouth looks like when it is healthy will help you identify signs that indicate a problem. If you start experiencing pain in your gums, tongue, cheeks, or the floor and roof of your mouth, have these changes examined by a dentist.
If you use tobacco products, quit
Smoking cigarettes or chewing smokeless tobacco increases risks of oral diseases like oral cancer, gum diseases, bad breath, and tooth discoloration.
Develop a partnership with your dentist
Don’t be shy when it comes to asking your dentist questions about your treatments and procedures. You might want to ask questions regarding different procedures being done, how those options differ in price and reliability, and when payments are due.