Smile and show your teeth: 14 ways to keep your teeth healthy

Are those two minutes over yet? Whatever, I don’t have time for this. I will just finish it and do something else. There are more important things to do. 

Is this what’s happening to you when you brush your teeth? You are surely not the only one. Brushing your teeth is a habit you have learned from the moment you got your first tooth. You weren’t even aware of it. You only learned to brush your teeth two times per day. That’s it. 

But things are changing. For example, I go four times per year to the dentist clinic. Here they call this the preventive approach, which I do appreciate. Two times per year I go to the dentist for a checkup and two times per year I go to a prevention assistant for cleaning. 

They also ask about your overall health, as everything is connected. So tell them about your medical conditions and which medications you take. These professionals help you to take care of your teeth and mouth. They will provide you with information and you can ask them questions. 

In this way you grow your knowledge and learn how to take care of yourself. Your mouth hygiene is part of self care. And you can use mindfulness to become aware of what you are doing. I would like to share some ways to keep your teeth healthy: 

1. Eat healthy and limit sugary foods and drinks. 
2. Quit smoking as tobacco is not good for your teeth. 
3. Limit alcoholic drinks to reduce the risk of oral cancer. 
4. Drink more water. It is especially helpful after a meal. 
5. Visit your dentist twice per year for a checkup. 
6. Visit a prevention assistant or a dental hygienist twice per year to clean your teeth. 
7. Use an electric toothbrush as it removes much more plaque than a normal toothbrush. 
8. Brush twice a day for at least two minutes. It is better to use a timer, so you know for sure you will reach those two minutes. Some modern electric toothbrushes are connected with an app you can use, that is also helpful. Two minutes is the minimum, if you really want to brush everything properly, you will need at least three minutes. 
9. Brush properly. Here is where mindfulness comes in. Take your time to brush. Move your brush in a gentle way and clean at least 3 seconds per tooth. Make sure you clean every part of the tooth. 
10. Use fluoride toothpaste. It doesn’t really matter which toothpaste you use, but make sure it contains fluoride. It is a defense against tooth decay and leaves a protective barrier. 
11. Use a tooth carrier to clean the spaces between your teeth. The toothbrush can’t reach all the places, so use a tooth carrier to remove the plaque.  
12. Use mouthwash. In between your meals you can use a mouthwash to freshen and clean your mouth.  
13. Use a tongue scraper. Plaque can also build up on your tongue. You can remove this by using a tongue scraper. It also can help if you have a bad breath. 
14. Use toothpicks after a meal. Do you feel some food between your teeth after a meal? Use a toothpick to quickly remove it.