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Poor dental health care or the lack of the same are the reasons why people develop oral health issues that rob them of their beautiful, natural smile.

The secret to having and keeping your smile is a combination of putting in the necessary efforts for observing proper dental care and making routine visits to your dentist.

The two are the primary measures to maintain clean, healthy teeth and gums that give you a radiant smile.

When it comes to personal efforts in observing dental hygiene, your focus should be on a preventive approach to maintaining your oral health. While much of what you do will be centered on keeping your teeth and gums clean and healthy, there is the need to take into account your life habits.

Some of the things you do, or what you consume, play a role in the deterioration of the conditions of your mouth which soon rob you of your pretty smile. Therefore, a comprehensive dental care routine should account for your dental diet.

So what should you do to ensure that you maintain a clean and healthy mouth with a bright smile?

1. Come Up With A Good Dental Routine

Every dentist attests to the importance and effectiveness of this; it is something that everyone should practice – kids and adults alike.

The most basic and mandatory thing to do is to brush the teeth and gums daily. Brushing should be done with a mildly-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste that contain calcium and fluoride.

Flossing is also recommended.

These two things should be done daily, twice at the very least.

Proper dental care should be a daily routine that is close to being a habit. That means cleaning the mouth (brush and flossing) in the morning and the evening when going to bed. The use of mouthwash also helps further your dental hygiene efforts. So if you seek to have and improve your beautiful smile, then you should come up with a suitable dental care routine and keep to it.

2. Clean And Care For Your Gums And Lips

A beautiful smile has more to do with just having sparkly whites; you also need to have clean and healthy gums and lips. As you brush your teeth, you also should take the time to work on your gums. Brushing them help get rid of bacteria while improving blood circulation.

The same goes for the lips. Use mild pressure when brushing the gums and lips.

The use of mouthwash also helps ensure that your gums are clean and free from bacteria.

Remember to keep your lips moist by applying some lip balm after brushing them so that they do not look dry and start cracking.

3. Eat Healthy Snacks

What you eat directly affects the health of your mouths. As such, you should strive to make better and healthier food choices to help support your dental health.

Avoid eating starchy and sugary foods because these stain the teeth and cause extensive damage. Eat more fruits and vegetables as well as nuts and yogurts. And try your best to brush after every meal.

4. Go For Dental Check-ups

As you observe the first two dental care practices, remember to seek a professional opinion on how your dental health is fairing.

You should make periodic visits to your dentist for checkups. The routine should be after every six months, or once a year at the very least.

Dental visits are integral to your preventive dental hygiene routine and efforts to maintain or improve your smile.

The dentist thoroughly examines your mouth to catch any problems early enough and recommends the suitable treatment.

However, it is wise to point out that daily brushing and flossing will go so far regarding your desire to have and maintain white teeth. At some point, the dentist may recommend teeth whitening to give that bright smile you want.

The brushing and flossing not only prevent dental diseases it also helps to keep your teeth from turning dull within a short time.

5. Think Ahead

In as much as putting certain things into practice eventually turns them into a habit, it always is wise to think ahead when it comes to matters of your health.

You should do this for your dental hygiene efforts.

Simply waking up and brushing and flossing, and doing the same before bed will not suffice. You should think ahead about your dental care routine, which should encompass eating foods that promote a healthy mouth and bright smile as well as scheduling your dental checkups.

There are no rules that say you have to get your missing teeth replaced. In fact, everything that happens inside your mouth can only be controlled by you. So if you can’t see the point, then nobody can make you get the gaps filled. But you also have to take into consideration the consequences of living with missing teeth.

• It will probably influence your self-confidence
• You lose functionality in terms of what you are able to eat and chew
• The form of your jaw will begin to reshape, due to the bone loss that eventually happens when teeth are missing for too long

In short, it only counts in your favor to get missing teeth replaced, and there is no lack of options. If you were to speak with a dentist right now, you’ll be amazed at how they can approach the problem.

To give you some idea of your options, here is a breakdown of replacing missing teeth.

1. Dentures

The most common solution for missing teeth, especially when there are more than 2 or 3 gaps, comes in the form of dentures. They are also the most affordable choice in the short term.

Given that bone loss will continue as the years go on, dentures need to be altered in order to fit with these changes. There are also certain challenges involved with food getting stuck between the dentures and your gums, as well as dentures just coming out when you least expect them too.

While dentures can definitely enhance the appearance of your teeth and bring back a lot of functionality, it’s not always going to be comfortable and you need to be mindful when you eat.

2. Dental Bridges

The second alternative would be dental bridges, which are perfect if you want to fill selected gaps. However, the dental bridge option depends on the health and presence of your other teeth, seeing as they are used to hold down the replacement tooth.

As expected, bridges are more expensive, but it’s a permanent solution that can work really well.

3. Dental Implants

An option that is quickly gaining more and more ground are dental implants. And it’s the way they become part of your mouth that makes them so alluring.

First off, a titanium screw gets inserted underneath the gum line of the missing tooth. Due to the design of the screw, the jawbone is able to fuse with it, making it a permanent part of your mouth. If you are worried about the titanium screw being in your jawbone for the rest of your life, don’t. It’s perfectly safe and it won’t cause any type of damage or harm.

After the screw has bonded with the jawbone, a crown gets cemented onto the screw. The result is almost like having a new tooth, but without a titanium root. Of course, you won’t have feeling in this tooth like you will with your biological teeth, but the implant is going to function and look perfectly normal – if not better.

Yes, dental implants are more expensive than the other options, but also keep in mind that once the crown is placed, you only have to make routine annual visits like you normally would. At no point down the line do any adjustments need to be made.

How long do dental implants last you wonder? According to the Jacksonville dental implants experts, “If you take care of them properly like you do your other teeth, there is no reason why they shouldn’t last you the rest of your natural life. And if the crown comes out, you simply get it replaced.”

However, not everyone will be able to use the dental implants option based on different variables. For example, without enough bone, an implant can’t be done, unless bone grafting is explored. The condition of your gums will also be taken into consideration. For the most part, people can go with implants as an option, but the other alternatives are always there if implants aren’t possible.

Ultimately, the choice is yours whether you want your teeth back or not. And remember how much influence they have on your self-confidence, not to mention your chewing ability. So if it’s possible, replace those missing teeth and maintain all the benefits.