Whether you’re looking to improve your oral health or you just want a fresh start, our O’Fallon dentists have some lifestyle tips that can help that can take your smile to the next level. These are some simple, straightforward steps that you can take to prioritize your oral health in 2022…
- Stay Hydrated
Drinking water is one of the absolute best things that you can do for your oral health. Not only does water wash away bacteria and dental debris, but drinking water also supports saliva production. Saliva is necessary for strengthening and re-mineralizing dental enamel.
- Rinse Regularly
In that same vein, taking the time to rinse your mouth after eating and drinking (especially sweet or acidic substances) can pay dividends over time. The goal is to limit the amount of time that problematic substances are in contact with your teeth and gums.
- Brush Strategically
Our dental team recommends rinsing after meals rather than brushing, because you actually need to wait about thirty minutes for your enamel to re-mineralize after acid exposure. Acids cause dental enamel to be temporarily softened, and thus susceptible to damage. The good news is that your enamel will re-mineralize quickly—you just want to make sure that you don’t manually clean your smile in a de-mineralized state.
As you can see, simple lifestyle adjustments can help you achieve and maintain your best smile, yet. Our O’Fallon dentists are happy to provide you with additional support or guidance—give our office a call to get started!