In many instances, our smile is one of the first things other people notice about us. A smile can instantly form a connection, exude what mood you’re in, and tell a lot about someone before they’ve even said a word!
A beautiful and healthy smile isn’t something that can be achieved overnight. Instead, it’s something you must maintain and care for over the duration of your life.
When you have a gleaming smile, this can elevate your confidence, self-worth, and natural beauty. Here are just a few suggestions that can help you keep on top of your oral hygiene game, and help you feel more confident and secure in your skin.
Get Your Teeth Straightened
When it comes to enhancing natural beauty, your smile plays a big part. When you feel good on the inside, you won’t be able to stop smiling. Unfortunately, for those who don’t like their smile, you’ll be reluctant to show off your pearly whites. For those who have misaligned teeth or an underbite smile, it may be time to consider getting your teeth straightened.
There are options for underbite treatments you can check out from ALIGNERCO. They have a guide on how to smile with an underbite, as well as underbite correction without surgery.
Getting your teeth straightened can bring all kinds of benefits to your oral health. For one, straight teeth make it much easier to clean and keep them in check. Secondly, straight teeth lower your risk of gum disease.
Brush Your Teeth Twice Daily
You probably do so already, but there’s no harm in reminding. It’s vital that you brush your teeth twice a day for your oral hygiene. Some people believe they can get away with brushing either once in the morning or before bed, but you should be doing both!
You’ll be surprised how much bacteria is in your mouth, so keeping on top of it and brushing twice daily is key for looking after your teeth and gums.
Even if you are brushing twice a day, you may not be using the correct technique. Should you be pressing too hard, you could be causing gum irritation. Over time, this can lead to gingivitis and periodontitis – the latter cannot be reversed. Make sure your brush is at a 45-degree angle, so you brush along the gumline.
Choose the Right Toothbrush
Even if you’re brushing twice a day and using the right technique, you may not have the best toothbrush around. You’ll be surprised how many people don’t change their toothbrushes!
If you’ve got a manual brush, you should be replacing it every 3 to 4 months. This is because the bristles can get worn down over time, which means you could be applying too much pressure on your teeth and gums. It doesn’t take a genius to look at a brush and find it’s gone through wear and tear. Replacing your brush regularly is key to maintaining a beautiful smile.
For those who want to ensure they reach every area of the mouth and give the best clean possible, an electric toothbrush will be your best friend. Electric toothbrushes are known to be more effective at eradicating plaque, improving focus while brushing, and can boost oral health in those with orthodontic appliances.
You can buy electric toothbrushes that have a built-in timer and sensors too. This means you won’t brush for too long or apply too much pressure. There are pros and cons to electric and manual toothbrushes, so it’s wise to compare your options first before purchasing.
Floss Daily
It’s a job that some of us dread to do, but when it comes to enhancing natural beauty and keeping on top of your oral health, flossing is a must. The purpose of flossing is simple – to get between each tooth and remove plaque, food, and bacteria. Brushing only gets rid of a certain amount of these, so you need to remember to floss after you’ve put your toothbrush down.
The great thing about flossing is there are lots of ways to do it. In the past, your only option would be to use a piece of string to floss. In 2022, you can use floss sticks or even invest in a water flosser.
Water flossers are great as they don’t cause any gum irritation and can do just as good of a job as flossing sticks. You may find your gums bleed when you begin flossing. This is completely normal. As you start to floss regularly, you should notice any gum inflammation reduces.
Cut Down on Soda
Soda is around us. From TV adverts and grocery store shelves to the average household cupboard, the likes of Coca-Cola, Fanta, and Sprite aren’t great for your teeth.
While one can of soda will not do too much harm, if you’re drinking the stuff daily, this significantly increases your risk of tooth decay and tooth loss. If there’s one bit of advice to take, it’s to drink more water!
Water is not only excellent for your skin and keeping it glowing and radiant, drinking more water helps to prevent dry mouth which can cause all kinds of oral health issues. You need to have plenty of salvia in the mouth to keep your teeth protected. When you up your water intake, your salvia will wash away any leftover food and keep your teeth strong.
See Your Hygienist
Regular cleaning is key for keeping and maintaining a beautiful smile. You should schedule dental cleanings with your hygienist at least once every 6 months.
Your hygienist can perform an array of procedures that will keep your teeth and gums in good health. From scale and polishes to deep cleaning, your hygienist can get rid of stains and tartar.
What you may not know is your hygienist can also look for different kinds of health conditions too. Ultimately, deep cleaning keeps your mouth clean, prevent bad breath, and can stop gum disease in its tracks.
Pack In Smoking
If you’re a smoker, you’re not the first and you’re certainly not going to be the last. In fact, it’s estimated that 30.8 million adults smoke cigarettes in the United States. This is a shocking statistic, and if you’re part of it, your oral health is certainly not going to benefit from this habit. Smoking can increase your risk of gum disease, stain your teeth, and cause bad breath.
Whether you’ve recently taken up cigarettes or you’ve been smoking for many years, there’s never a bad time to quit the habit for good.
For those who haven’t got the willpower to stop on their own, a quick Google search can bring up communities in your area that can help you stop smoking for good. To maintain a beautiful smile and exude natural beauty, smoking is never a good look!
Your oral health plays a huge factor in your confidence and self-esteem. We’re all naturally beautiful, but if you want to elevate how you feel about yourself and feel some changes need to be made, improving your oral hygiene routine can do wonders.
From brushing twice a day to making minor lifestyle changes, prioritizing your oral health will benefit your general health, natural beauty, and prevent the risk of tooth decay, tooth loss, and severe gum disease.
