Parental dental tips

Regular brushing and flossing are very important for keeping your teeth and gums healthy and strong, and to avoid cavities, gum disease, and even the risk of tooth loss. However, brushing and flossing are not the only things you should be doing to ensure your teeth are healthy! While your dentist can give you personalised advice for keeping your teeth strong and for resisting cavities and other such damage, note a few tips that many people often overlook when it comes to proper oral hygiene and care.

Getting the right supplements

You may know that calcium helps to build strong teeth, and you may even take a calcium supplement if you don't get much calcium in your everyday diet. While this is good, the body also needs vitamin D to absorb that calcium! Vitamin D is made by your body when you're exposed to sunlight, so enjoying warm summertime sun can actually mean healthier teeth. Fatty fish like tuna and mackerel, egg yolks, and foods fortified with vitamin D can provide enough of this nutrient, or you might consider a vitamin D supplement, if recommended by your dentist or doctor.

Don't pick

You may be in the habit of picking at your teeth after eating, and may even assume that this is healthy, as it helps to remove food debris from around the teeth. While it is true that you want to remove as many food particles as possible after eating, you don't want to use a pick of any sort! Picks can jab at the gums and the teeth, causing cuts, erosion to the tooth enamel, and other damage. Use a gentle floss instead, so you can remove food debris without damage.

Don't ignore bad breath

Bad breath happens to everyone, and can often be combated with some brushing, flossing, and rinsing. However, if you have chronic bad breath, especially if it's accompanied by a bitter or acidic taste, you should tell your dentist about it. Halitosis mean that you have a decayed tooth, an impacted tooth, an oral infection, infected tonsils, or other such health concerns. You also may not be brushing and flossing properly or may be drying your mouth with the products you're using, allowing bacteria and germs to collect. Don't be embarrassed about talking to your dentist about your halitosis, as he or she is there to help combat the problem, but discuss what you've done to try to fix it and if there are any other symptoms you notice as well.