The modern, professional woman has to be successful, healthy and fit, and well-groomed. While this may seem like a tall order given the frantic pace of daily life in the 21st century, making the most of your assets is important to the woman who wants to thrive in and out of the boardroom. While make-up and fashion are useful beauty tools, nothing beats a perfect smile.
There are plenty of expensive ways you can obtain the perfect set of whites, but you will just as easily find cost-effective and easy home-based methods. Following these tips will help you make a lasting impression.
Basic Dental Hygiene
Brushing a minimum of twice a day is the most basic first step to healthy, glowing teeth. It gets rid of plaque which can cause build-up and tooth decay. Yet many people rush this and put teeth health at risk. It is important to brush in circular motions and to clean the back and sides too, not only the front of your teeth. When plaque hardens on the teeth, it causes dental calculus, which leads to gingivitis (early gum disease). Plaque can also line the tongue, causing smelly breath, so the tongue should be brushed each time you brush your teeth.
Flossing is the next key step. As well as doing away with plaque between the teeth, flossing increases blood flow to the gums and reduces inflammation. Finally, mouth wash is not just to make your breath smell fresh. It also cleans out your mouth and gets to places that are hard to reach with your toothbrush. At the same time, it decreases acid, thus lessening plaque. Use a dedicated brand if you have sensitive teeth.
The Importance of Diet
The inner workings of the body have an impact on dental health. Diet, especially, has a big influence on healthy teeth and gums. Keep your teeth and jaw strong with fresh, crunchy vegetables and avoid foods that are excessively soft and that don’t provide this exercise. We have sharp teeth for a reason. They are supposed to be able to tear through tough pieces of meat and chew the food down enough to aid in better digestion.
An adequate supply of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates can prevent disease so ensure that you follow a balanced diet. Sugars and bacteria are responsible for plaque formation. However, calcium and phosphate occur naturally in the saliva and can remineralize teeth provided too much acid is not present. Xylitol is a sugar replacement that has been shown to reduce cavities. This natural sugar alternative is also a great substitute for diabetic patients and is often used to make medicine as it has alcohol occurring naturally during its formation.
Don’t Ignore a Professional
Drink a lot of water as this can help to flush away acids that eat away at teeth and gums. Try to take a few sips of water before and after your meals so that food doesn’t stick to your teeth and start decaying your enamel. With all the good dietary and teeth cleaning habits, you will still need to visit a dentist at some point. If not for teeth cleaning, to remove cavities or root canals, or to fix unsightly teeth that need straightening. There are amazing options such as invisible teeth straightening liners available through ALIGNERCO. Ready to give you a style makeover, ALIGNERCO promises straight teeth in three simple steps at affordable prices. These quality aligners lastaround 6 months and the best part is that because these are invisible, no one will ever know you are wearing a retainer.
Improve Your Acid Reflux
Heartburn is a common side effect of eating something gassy or acidic that doesn’t agree with your stomach. When acid builds up, it can come back up into your esophagus while you’re sleeping. Stomach acid is incredibly corrosive and will even burn a hole through a car engine. It is comparable to battery acid with a high pH level of between 1 and 2.
If you have a problem with acid reflux, GERD, or sleep apnea you will need to get your stomach fluids regulated to avoid further damaging your teeth. Acid reflux can be managed with medication, and unless you have a serious illness you can recover from changing your diet. Foods and drinks that are common triggers for acid reflux are coffee, alcohol, tomatoes, citrus fruits like oranges, curries and spicy dishes, chocolate, onions, and even dairy. It is important to identify if you have any food intolerances. Any substances that your stomach can’t handle and that produce too much acid will only worsen the heartburn, making your teeth slowly decay and waste away.
Your stomach acid can melt through a variety of materials, so it can do immense damage to your teeth and gums.
Regularly Replace Toothbrushes
Germs and bacteria thrive in warm environments that they can build a home. Kitchen sponges, shower loofahs, facecloths, and your toothbrush are perfect breeding grounds for unhealthy damaging microorganisms. Your toothbrush will also wear away the more you use it, and eventually, it won’t work as well.
A dirty or overused toothbrush can not only ruin your smile, but it can also make you sick. Bacteria that get stuck to the bristles after brushing can start to rot and grow mold that can enter your bloodstream through your saliva the next time you brush.
Dentists recommend that you should replace your toothbrush no less than every 3 or 4 months, however, others have suggested replacing them monthly.
Household Teeth Cleaners
Calcium, phosphorus, and casein are substances that prevent cavities. Casein is found in cows’ milk and has been shown to improve calcium deficiencies and prevent tooth decay. Foods that require chewing are a good choice as they stimulate saliva which fights dental cavities. This includes whole foods, hard cheeses, and peanuts. At the same time as sound nutrition improves the state of your mouth, problems with your teeth can lead to ill-health.
Not only can you keep healthy teeth and gums by maintaining a good diet, but you can also use food scraps and baking items to clean your teeth. Items like banana peels and baking soda have been used for decades by celebrities and busy moms. The potassium and magnesium in banana peels can add minerals back into your enamel. If you leave the peels on for a few minutes they have a bleaching effect. Baking soda should only be used once every few months as the abrasiveness of the granules can scrape the top layer of enamel from your teeth.
There is no doubt that dental hygiene is important and should be a part of our daily lives and cleaning schedules. Neglecting your biannual dentist visits and not keeping a healthy diet rich in a variety of nutrients will only make you suffer long term. Having a healthy set of teeth and gums is also associated with more successful people and those more likely to be hired for professional positions. As long as you follow basic dietary suggestions, brush regularly, replace your toothbrush, and try some of these tips, you can rest assured that your dental health is being taken care of.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.