Your teeth are quite an important part of your health and also your appearance. With healthy teeth, you can avoid gum inflammation and oral bone deterioration along with any problems associated with bacterial infections in your mouth and through your body. To keep your teeth and oral health well, make sure you follow some recommendations that you can do on your own and also with the help of your dental professional.

Follow Healthy Practices

When it comes to your oral health, it is essential that you keep up on your teeth and gums with regular cleaning. This will allow you to keep them clean and free of infection and inflammation that can lead to poor health and further infections and problems. This means that you should brush your teeth at least twice a day to remove plaque and tartar build-up along with food particles. When food is left on your teeth, it reacts with your saliva and ends up as sticky tartar on your teeth. This tartar is quite soft and you can rub it from your teeth with a soft cloth, yet if you don't take the time to brush it off, it will harden into plaque that is more difficult to remove and usually has to be scraped off your teeth. 

In addition to causing bad breath, the bigger problem with plaque and tartar is that it sticks onto your teeth and causes decay between it and your teeth enamel. When it hardens and gets under your gums, it can cause gum recession and loss, which can leave your teeth susceptible to further damage. You can actually end up losing your teeth, which leads to bone loss in your jaw that will affect the appearance of your face. For this reason, in addition to brushing, you should floss your teeth once a day to remove this build-up between your teeth and on the gum line. 

Visit Your Dentist

Plan to visit your dentist on a regular basis at least twice a year. They will be able to check your teeth for issues and also clean them to remove any plaque and tartar buildup. You should also plan to eat healthy foods with a balanced diet. 

If you are having difficulty brushing your teeth or flossing correctly, especially if you wear braces, talk to your dentist about the proper way to do each practice. They can show you the right method to floss around each of your teeth and how to brush to avoid too much pressure on your teeth, which can damage your tooth enamel. They can also recommend a flossing tool for you to clean around your teeth and braces if you wear them.

To learn more about preventative dental care, make an appointment with a dentist.