Daily 1-Minute Tips for Healthy Teeth

Regular trips to your dentist’s office, brushing your at least teeth twice a day for two minutes each time and flossing your teeth once a day has been deemed to be “the proven formula for success when it comes to keeping your teeth healthy,” by the American Dental Association (ADA). In addition to these healthy dental care habits, there are lots of other things you can do throughout the day to improve and maintain your oral health. Here’s the best part: they only require a minute of your time!

Tip #1: Drink Tap Water

Although bottled water may seem like the most the attractive choice, it does not contain fluoride, which is an essential mineral that can help strengthen the enamel in your teeth and keep your teeth healthy. According to the ADA, the addition of fluoride in the community water supply “the single most effective public health measure to prevent dental decay,” Furthermore, drinking water can aid rinsing away lingering cavity-causing bacteria that might be on your teeth.

Tip #2 Restrict the number of times you consumer sugary snacks throughout the day

Dental professionals state, “It’s not the amount of sugar you eat that’s harmful to your teeth, but how often you eat it.” This is based on the fact that bacteria that live in your mouth feast on food left behind on your teeth. Acid is produced when the bacteria digests the sugar in those food particles, and may contribute to enamel erosion and cavities. Restricting the number of times to eat sugary snacks may contribute to maintaining healthy teeth.

Tip#3 – Drink Green Tea and Black Tea

Green tea and black tea contain polyphenols, which are compounds that can limit or destroy bacteria growth, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center. This is another quick and delicious way to keep your teeth healthy and prevent bacteria from producing acid that may result in tooth decay.

Tip#4: Arm Yourself By Drinking Out of A Straw

Generally, you might drink out of a straw when you are at a restaurant. Drinking out of a straw when you are at home too may draw acid and sugary liquids away from your teeth. Each time you drink something sweet, it activates bacteria that can attack your teeth. Believe it or not, the “attack “restarts with every sip you and can last for about 20 minutes, according to the Wisconsin Dental Association. Keeping sugary drinks away from direct contact with your teeth can help.

Tip #5: Chew Sugarless Gum

Chewing sugarless gum helps the production of saliva, which not only neutralizes your mouth, but also washes away acids produced by the bacteria in your mouth. The flow of saliva can also help strengthen your teeth by bringing more calcium and phosphate to the surface of your teeth, according to the ADA. It is most effective to chew for 20 minutes after eating. And remember: Chewing gum doesn’t replace brushing and flossing.

Dr. Evelina Tolchinsky, DDS and Dr. Inna Trogan DDS will be happy to share more tips during your next visit. Our dentists have served the residents of Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Dumbo, and all of our other surrounding communities for years.