Even if you value a healthy smile, it’s easy to become somewhat neglectful about smile-friendly lifestyle choices. In today’s message from Ritchie Dental Group, our goal is for you to evaluate where you stand and consider whether you could step it up a notch. Committing to oral health best practices can prevent future problems and benefit your quality of life.
Brushing
Good: Brush teeth once a day.
Better: Brush teeth properly after each meal.
Best: Brush after each meal and floss thoroughly before bed.
Dental Checkups
Good: See your dentist if you get a toothache.
Better: See Dr. Ritchie once a year even if you don’t notice any dental issues.
Best: Twice yearly, have a thorough dental exam and professional dental cleaning at Ritchie Dental Group.
A White Smile
Good: Use a whitening toothpaste.
Better: Use an OTC tooth whitening system at home.
Best: Schedule an in-office whitening treatment.
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, durable, and natural-functioning dental implant. (Consult with Dr. Ritchie to find out if you are a good candidate for an implant.)
Smile-Friendly Nutrition
Good: Eat a healthy 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, minimize sugar-filled foods, abstain from energy drinks and soda, and sip water throughout the day to keep acid at bay.
For Young Smiles
Good: Never put your little one 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, talk to Dr. Ritchie 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.
Hello, I am Dr. Greg Ritchie. At Ritchie Dental Group, we are dedicated to the best in dentistry.
We look forward to meeting you.