Five tips for a healthier smile

Want to take better care of your oral health? It’s easy to make a few simple changes to your daily routine to make your smile much healthier. We asked our Edinburgh dentists for their top tips on how to make sure your smile is sparkling…

Two minutes, twice a day

Firstly, let’s start with something obvious… brush your teeth! You’d be surprised how many people don’t brush their teeth twice a day, every day. To make sure you give your teeth a thorough clean, brush them for two minutes both morning and night.

Not sure if you’re brushing for long enough? Set a timer on your phone so you brush for the full two minutes each time.

Remember to floss

Flossing should be an essential part of your regular dental routine, but a lot of people tend to skip this step. When you brush your teeth, only the front and back surfaces get a thorough cleaning. But the side surfaces between your teeth… you’ll need floss to reach them!

Flossing every couple of days can help to keep your breath fresh, reduce plaque, decrease cavities and keep your mouth nice and healthy.

Eat well

Eating well is not only good for your general health, it’s good for your oral health too. Food and drink that’s high in sugar can wreak havoc in your mouth, causing tooth erosion, tooth decay and cavities.

A balanced diet is best for a healthy smile, with plenty of fresh veggies, grains and calcium-rich foods. Crunchy veg like cucumber and celery can even help to freshen breath throughout the day.

Stop smoking

It’s a well-known fact that smoking is bad for your health, and it can cause serious damage to your mouth. As well as staining teeth and turning them yellow, smoking can also erode your gums, increase plaque and bacteria, and can even lead to tooth loss.

Visit the dentist regularly

Even if you’re already doing all the tips mentioned above, it’s still important to visit your dentist regularly for a check-up. This allows your dentist to make sure there are no issues with your oral health, as well as giving your teeth good clean.

We’d recommend visiting your dentist for a check-up every six months, unless they advise otherwise. If you have any pain or problems with your teeth or gums, don’t wait for your next check-up - book in an appointment as soon as possible so they can sort out the problem before it turns into a bigger issue.