Our lifestyle choices affect everything about us, even right up to the smile that you wear proudly on your face. And more often than not, it’s your smile that gets noticed first whenever you meet someone new, or introduce yourself to an important group of people.
But would you believe that your lifestyle choices can affect your smile in many ways? The fact is, many of our habits, especially our diets, affect our teeth in ways that may not manifest for several years.
Recent popular trends have shown that white teeth denote health, intelligence, and even affluence. Basically, the whiter your teeth, the more attractive you become to others. And this is probably a huge reason why those in Hollywood spend thousands of dollars on dental procedures.
But the key to keeping a healthy smile doesn’t have to come in the form of costly dental implants. In fact, there are many ways to keep a brilliant smile. And here, we’ll explore a few of these methods.
Healthy Food for Healthy Teeth
One of the best things you can do in order to keep a healthy smile is to ensure that you’re eating the right foods to promote healthy teeth and gums. And many of these foods come in the form of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, herbs and supplements can also help to promote healthy teeth and gums as well. In fact, many healing herbs, especially ginger and turmeric are known to prevent decay and even help restore damaged enamel.
Aside from ginger and turmeric, a few additional herbs to consider for promoting healthy teeth and gums are as follows:
- Oregon Grape Root
- Myrrh
- Neem
- Echinacea
- Goldenseal
- Propolis
- Sage
- White Oak Bark
- Plantain
Our diets also play a crucial role in teeth and gum health. As such, eating diets high in acid can have a corrosive effect on your tooth enamel. With this in mind, it’s best to avoid processed foods and anything with a high concentration of acid or carbonation, as these both can lead to decay.
Alcohol and Tobacco Use
It’s widely known that both alcohol and tobacco use can have adverse effects on your health in many ways. And smoking especially can stain your teeth and cause serious oral problems to occur over time. In fact, most oral cancers are attributed to tobacco use.
Additionally, alcohol can also increase your chances of developing oral cancer. Further, excessive drinking may also cause severe dry mouth. And a lower rate of saliva production can lead to tooth decay and promote gum disease.
Finally, chewing tobacco and the consumption of red wine arguably produce the worst effects when it comes to oral health. Both can significantly stain your teeth, and cause oral health problems if consumption is frequent.
Visit the Dentist Regularly
It’s also necessary to see your oral hygienist in addition to taking care of your teeth at home. We will assess your dental health and provide recommendations on how to properly care for your teeth and gums. Furthermore, we can remove plaque and tartar from hard-to-reach parts of your mouth before they harm the appearance of your smile. There are more advantages to cosmetic dentistry than just looks. Treatment methods like these can be rapid, long-lasting, and beneficial to your dental health. Straighter teeth, for example, make chewing food simpler. Crowns, on the other hand, can strengthen your teeth.
It’s essential to visit your dentist for check-ups and cleanings on a regular basis in order to preserve your dental health. Professional cleanings can remove hardened plaque that a toothbrush and floss won’t be able to remove at home. Furthermore, frequent checkups allow your dentist to detect early indicators of diseases such as gingivitis, drug interactions, dental caries, enamel wear and tear, and even oral cancer, when treatment is easier and less intrusive.
Drinking Plenty of Water
One of the best defenses in the prevention of gum disease and tooth decay is drinking plenty of water. Because drinking water naturally helps to rinse away harmful bacteria or acid in your mouth that may cause tooth decay or gum disease. Most dentists recommend drinking water with fluoride compounds added to help strengthen teeth. Regardless, drinking water after eating (especially after eating sugary foods) is highly recommended for optimal oral health.
In addition to drinking water, rinsing with mouthwash can also help kill the harmful bacteria in your mouth. But it’s also good to note that overuse of mouthwash can have an adverse effect on oral health as well.
Alternatives to Costly Implants
While whitening your teeth may help to give you a brilliant smile, If your teeth have decayed considerably, and you simply cannot afford to have oral surgery, crowns, or dental bonding, you do have other options to consider. And one of those options is snap-on veneers. If you work in a position where you have to greet people on a daily basis, such as in a customer service-related position, or if you’re in sales or hospitality, chances are that your smile can impact your job. And snap-on veneers can help improve your confidence and your job performance.
A lifetime of dental care is required to get healthy teeth. Even if you’ve been told you have lovely teeth, it’s critical to take the proper steps to care for them and avoid issues every day. This entails using the proper dental care products and being aware of your regular behaviours. Veneers cover up the unsightly decay that you’d rather not have on full display whenever you smile. And this is an affordable alternative for those who cannot afford costly oral surgery.
Oral hygiene in today’s world is extremely important. And if you’re a social person who enjoys being around others, hiding your smile can be a significant blow to self-esteem. Not only can changing your lifestyle greatly improve your oral health, but it will also keep you from having to spend thousands of dollars on costly oral surgery.