At Leatherwood Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we aim to not only provide high-quality dental services but also to teach our patients how to best care for their smiles. Your preventative dental care is important to maintaining your smile for many years to come. Our office is happy to help patients at any stage in their dental health journey, and welcomes patients who have been avoiding the dentist for a while. As your local Denton, TX dentist office, we are here to help you restore your dental health and achieve a smile that you can feel proud of. Here are our three best tips for improving your dental health:

Brush & Floss

While this may seem like an obvious tip, it’s important to remember to brush and floss at least twice a day. Brushing and flossing is your smile’s main line of defense against common dental concerns like gum disease or tooth decay. If you are not brushing and flossing twice a day, you are allowing food and beverage residue to remain on your dental structures for extended amounts of time. This means that they are more likely to harden and develop into plaque or tartar, making them even more difficult to remove. In addition to brushing and flossing twice a day, you can also chew sugar-free gum or rinse your mouth out with water after midday meals and snacks to reduce the amount of food and beverage residue on your smile between meals.

Evaluate Your Diet

Your diet directly impacts your dental health. If you are eating and drinking substances that are high in sugar, you are more likely to develop dental cavities. Additionally, many foods and beverages contain staining agents that can cause your smile to become dull and yellow. Crunchy snacks like potato chips can have a negative impact on your smile as well. When you are chewing potato chips, they will often get stuck in the crevices between your teeth. Anything that is excessively chewy or sticky also presents a risk for your smile as they may cause unexpected dental damages. When you are considering your diet, make sure to include more smile-friendly foods into meal plan. We recommend pita bread with hummus, fruit smoothies, and greek yogurt.

Schedule Your Dental Cleanings

Even patients with the most strict at-home oral hygiene routines should see their dentist at least twice a year for routine dental cleanings and exams. It’s important to never skip a dental cleaning. Preventative dentistry appointments allow your dentist to keep a close eye on your dental health and address minor issues before they develop into major dental concerns. During your dental cleaning, a trained dental hygienist will clean your teeth, removing any plaque or tartar buildup threatening your dental health. If you are looking for a family-friendly dentist office in Denton, TX, we hope you will consider visiting our practice. If it has been over six months since the last time you sat in the dental chair, please schedule an appointment online. We look forward to seeing you soon.