5 Ways to Prepare Your Teeth for the Fall
Your oral healthcare is a daily and all-year-round priority. Whether you are a child or an adult, it is important to care for your teeth since your oral health will affect your overall wellness. For this reason, we advise our patients to visit our dentist in Tracy, CA, for regular checkups.
However, you will need to do much more to keep your teeth healthy. With changing seasons comes the need for your teeth to adapt. Therefore, you will need to switch from the dental care plans you used during the summer and use a different one in the fall.
Our social behaviors also shift, resulting in a change in diet and traditions. The fall comes with certain holidays that promote unhealthy eating habits. From banquets to candies, your mouth will sample almost everything. However, plaque and tooth decay are usually rising during this season.
Therefore, our dentist has opted to share some ways that you can prepare your teeth for the fall to ensure that your smile remains healthy.
1. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Your teeth need to be relentless to care for your teeth daily. They might be sturdy, but your pearly whites will not serve you for life without proper care. Therefore, you must practice proper oral hygiene to ensure that your pearly whites are tip-top.
Brushing each day after your meals is a no-brainer. You must have heard this countless times while growing up and be in your kid’s ear trying to preach the same “gospel.” The first and crucial method of removing bacteria from your mouth is brushing your teeth. Doing it at least twice daily after meals will kick-start your oral health journey.
Flossing also goes hand in hand with brushing. Since brushing deals with three surfaces of your teeth, flossing reaches the remaining two. It is also essential because it removes the debris lodged in the hard-to-reach areas. If you can floss once a day, you are good to go.
You can also choose to invest in a good antimicrobial rinse. An antibacterial rinse or mouthwash will help keep the harmful bacteria at bay. It helps wash away food debris and decreases the chances of plaque buildup. Remember to choose an alcohol-free rinse to prevent xerostomia (dry mouth).
2. Drink Plenty of Water to Stay Hydrated
Water is the key to our survival. It has countless benefits for our bodies, one of which is that it aids in saliva production. Saliva coats your teeth in a protective layer and keeps your teeth moist.
It also aids in the flushing of food debris and bacteria out of the mouth. What’s more, when there isn’t enough saliva, your teeth will become more sensitive to temperature fluctuations.
When your mouth is dry, you are encouraging bacterial colonies to thrive. Therefore, there is a likelihood that plaque can form much faster. Besides keeping your mouth hydrated, water has minerals that can strengthen your teeth.
3. Manage Tooth Sensitivity Brought About By Weather Changes
We are moving to the colder seasons of the year. The temperature drop comes with many issues, including colds and tooth sensitivity. So, you also need to be mindful and not undergo certain dental treatments that encourage tooth sensitivity not unless the treatment is necessary. Therefore, teeth whitening can wait for the warmer seasons.
But, you can still choose to get the treatment and employ protective measures such as applying lip balm, using fluoride toothpaste, undergoing fluoride treatment to strengthen the teeth, breathing through the nose, etc.
4. Avoid Sugary Drinks, Foods, and Treats
We all know that Halloween comes with tons of sweets. Every turn, you will meet candy, and you must practice restraint lest you find yourself dealing with cavities after the festive season.
Also, sugary drinks and foods will do as much damage to your teeth as candies would. So, whatever you do during this season, do it in moderation. Also, you need to brush more often than you are used to so that bacteria will not get a chance to wreak havoc.
5. Schedule a Dental Cleaning to Avoid the Holiday Rush
Most people schedule cleanings during the holidays. By the time you decide that you should undergo a cleaning, the slots could be full. To stay ahead, contact our dental office in Tracy to schedule a dental cleaning before people book.
Taking care of your teeth this fall will ensure you enjoy yourself without worrying about dental issues. Contact us at Valley View Dental for general dentistry in Tracy, CA.