A natural, healthy smile is one of nature’s great ice-breakers. Whether you’re meeting new people or socialising with friends and family, smiling is contagious and instantly inspires a sense of well-being in those around us. What’s more, it makes us feel more confident and positive too. Unfortunately, too many of us are embarrassed about our smiles, and that’s usually because we’ve neglected to look after our teeth. Here are some top tips from a quality dentists in Dudley for reversing that and renewing confidence in our grin!

Brush Regularly

No surprises about this one – you’ve probably been told this since you were young. We should all be brushing twice a day, for two minutes. Time yourself when you clean your teeth – you may be surprised at how you’re overestimating the time you’re spending on them. Not brushing properly can lead to a build-up of bacteria that can cause bad breath, decay in teeth and diseased gums. Don’t forget to brush last thing at night – that helps protect teeth from bacteria that would otherwise flourish in your mouth. And while you’re cleaning your teeth, make sure you cover every angle – front, back and the biting surface.

Use a circular motion while you’re brushing. This really helps get in all the crevices, and has the added bonus of keeping your gum line and gums generally healthy. Ask your dentist for advice on the best brush to use. Most people benefit from a soft to medium bristle strength with a relatively small head, which makes it easier to reach those tricky areas at the back of your mouth. Also, make sure any youngsters in the family get brushing advice from a good children’s dentist.

Next, use dental floss. This can help remove stray particles and bacteria that your toothbrush can’t reach. Interdental brushes can be used for any larger gaps between teeth. As your dentist will tell you, these gaps and awkward areas make up around 40% of your teeth’s surface area, so if you don’t floss, you’ll still be leaving harmful bacteria behind, no matter how well you brush.

Be Aware of What You Put in Your Mouth!

By this, we mean check that your toothpaste contains fluoride. It’s a controversial issue in some quarters, but plenty of research shows that fluoride can help minimise decay, reducing it by a rate of up to 70% when used correctly. What does that mean? Simply put, don’t rinse with water after cleaning your teeth – this washes away the fluoride. Leaving it to do its work is far more beneficial.

And of course, keep a close eye on your sugar intake. Bacteria love sugar, and break it down to cause the acid that damages teeth. As an added incentive, cutting out as much sugar as possible will reduce your chances of gum disease, as well as helping prevent obesity and diabetes.

Our last tip? Make regular appointments to see your dentists in Dudley! Spotting early signs of decay is key to keeping your teeth healthy. Your dentist will also be able to advise on preventative measures, as well as ways you can make your smile sparkle, such as Invisalign, teeth braces, teeth whitening and other cosmetic procedures.