At Desbordes Dental, our goal is to help all of our patients improve and maintain their smile for many years to come. Many patients ask us about our best tips for lifelong oral health and wellness. Dr. Desbordes, your trusted Baltimore dentist, recommends the following tips for improving your dental health:
Brush & Floss
This may seem like an obvious tip, but it is perhaps one of the most important steps in ensuring the longevity of your dental health. Brushing and flossing are your smile’s main lines of defense against common dental concerns like gum disease and tooth decay. We recommend that all patients should brush and floss at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. The goal is to limit the amount of food residue left behind on your smile for extended amounts of time. In order to keep your smile clean when brushing and flossing are not as convenient, consider chewing sugar free gum or rinsing your mouth out with water between midday meals and snacks. This will not only help you maintain fresh breath but also reduce the amount of food particles stuck between your teeth until you are able to brush and floss.
Evaluate Your Diet
Your dietary choices directly impact your dental health. If you are eating a lot of sugary or starchy foods, you are more likely to develop dental cavities. Snacks like soda, gummy candies, or potato chips leave behind sticky residues on your teeth that can be difficult to remove. It’s important to practice moderation when consuming snacks that will be harder on your dental health. Avoid any beverages that contain large amounts of sugar or staining agents, as this may lead to dental discoloration. We recommend that patients meal plan several smile-friendly snacks into their weeks for best results. Snacks like hummus with pita bread, carrot sticks, fruit smoothies, or assorted nut mixes are not only delicious but also contain the vital nutrients that your teeth and gums need to remain healthy.
See Your Dentist For Routine Cleanings
You should see your dentist for routine dental cleanings and exams twice a year. We recommend that patients visit our Baltimore dentist office once every six months. While it may be tempting to skip a dental appointment or avoid seeing the dentist until something goes wrong, preventative dentistry is the best option for your smile. When you visit us for routine cleanings twice a year, this allows our amazing team of dental professionals to keep a close eye on your dental health and address small issues before they develop into major, costly dental concerns. To avoid the need for major restorative work later on, you should never wait until something goes wrong within your smile to see a dentist. Instead, see your dentist regularly for routine preventative care. Our office is currently accepting new patients. If it has been over six months since your last dental cleaning, please schedule an appointment today.