Even if you value a healthy smile, it’s easy to become a bit negligent about smile-friendly lifestyle choices. In today’s post, our goal at St. Mary’s Dental is for you to assess where you stand and think about whether you could step it up a notch. Committing to oral health best practices can prevent future problems and improve your quality of life.
Brushing
Good: Brush teeth once a day.
Better: Brush teeth effectively after each meal.
Best: Brush after each meal and floss appropriately before bed.
Dental Checkups
Good: See your dentist if you get a toothache.
Better: See Doctor McCray once a year even if you don’t notice any dental problems.
Best: Twice yearly, have a comprehensive dental exam and professional dental cleaning at St. Mary’s Dental.
A White Smile
Good: Use a whitening toothpaste.
Better: Use an OTC whitening product at home.
Best: Schedule an in-office tooth bleaching procedure.
Missing Tooth
Good enough for some people: Ignore it. (We don’t recommend this.)
Better: Get a quality dental bridge.
Best: Restore your smile with a beautiful, sturdy, and natural-functioning dental implant. (Consult with Doctor McCray to find out if you are a good candidate for an implant.)
Smile-Friendly Nutrition
Good: Eat a nutritious diet.
Better: Eat a healthy diet and limit sugary snacks and beverages.
Best: Eat a healthy diet, limit between-meal snacking, eat lots of calcium-rich foods, limit sugary snacks, abstain from energy drinks and soda, and sip water throughout the day to keep acid at bay.
For Young Smiles
Good: Never put your baby to bed with a bottle. When your toddler starts drinking from sippy cup, don’t let them sip juice or milk all day.
Better: Follow the previous counsel and schedule his/her first dental checkup before the first birthday.
Best: In addition, speak with Doctor McCray about dental sealants when your child is young. When your little athlete starts participating in sports, make sure he/she wears a protective mouthguard. Set a good example of daily dental hygiene and healthy lifestyle choices.
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Contact St. Mary’s Dental:
301-960-7960
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
28169 Old Village Rd
Mechanicsville, Maryland
20659
