Last month, our team at LakeCrest Dental talked about setting your child up for success by scheduling a back-to-school dental cleaning and exam.

We want to continue our commitment to keeping your family’s smiles healthy by sharing some of the ways to prevent problems with your teeth and gums!

Good Oral Health Starts With Prevention!

Here are some helpful tips for preventing tooth day, cavities, and gum disease and improving your oral health:

Choose A Toothpaste With Fluoride!

You have an endless selection of oral care products in stores to choose from, but some are better than others when it comes to protecting your teeth from decay.

Your toothpaste, for example, should contain fluoride. It’s recommended by the American Dental Association because fluoride remineralizes your tooth enamel so it stays strong and fortified against bacteria and acids.

You can also visit your Sand Springs dentist for fluoride treatments for added protection!

Start Flossing NOW!

If you’re pretty good about keeping your mouth clean everyday by brushing your teeth in the morning and at night, but you’re not so good about flossing, you’re putting your dental health at risk.

That’s because flossing is vital to ridding your mouth of food particles and debris in the tiny, hard-to-reach places your toothbrush can’t reach.

Skipping this important step each day will only invite bacteria to break down the structures in your mouth, so if you aren’t flossing, start doing it today!

Eat More Fiber!

The bacteria you find in dental plaque is what causes decay, cavities, and gum disease.

You can fight against bacteria and prevent it from becoming acidic in a couple of ways, beginning with daily brushing and flossing.

Beyond that, you can stay well-hydrated to ensure you’re producing plenty of saliva, since that is your mouth’s natural cleansing mechanism that washes away food debris that bacteria feeds on. To further promote saliva production, you can eat more fiber!

Foods that are high in fiber will help you generate more saliva so your teeth and gums stay shielded against tooth decay.

Practice Moderation!

A nutritious diet is important for maintaining healthy teeth and gums, and unfortunately, that shouldn’t include sugar! That’s because it’s the favorite food source of bad bacteria inside your mouth and will only lead to tooth decay and cavities.

But that doesn’t mean you have to completely eliminate sugary treats!

The key is to practice moderation with things like candy, soda, cookies, and other dietary guilty-pleasures. Reserve sweets and sugary drinks to satisfy your cravings only once in a while, and work hard on a daily basis to eat lots of healthy fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and protein to keep your teeth clean and strong.

Visit Your Sand Springs Dentist!

Even with all the tips you’ve read about in today’s blog, you still need to make routine dental care a part of your lifestyle. We’d love to tell you that your toothbrush and dental floss are the only tools you need to scrape the sticky, invisible film off your teeth, it’s just not the case.

Daily oral hygiene is necessary to keep your mouth clean, but only a professional can do the rest!

Every six months, you need to visit your Sand Springs dentist to get the built-up plaque and harmful bacteria removed from your teeth and gums.

We will also use the latest detection technology to look for signs of tooth decay and cavities so you can take care of it right away and prevent more serious problems down the road.

Schedule An Appointment Today!

Keeping your mouth healthy begins with a commitment to good habits and preventive dental care.

So give yourself a fresh start today and schedule an appointment in Sand Springs!

Call LakeCrest Dental today at 918-205-4386 or fill out our online form.