My Three Tips for a Healthy Smile

This post has been sponsored by the American Dental Association, however, all thoughts and
opinions are my own.

Oral health is such a big deal to me and our family. I wore braces for five years through elementary school into high school. My mom grew up with poor teeth due to medication my grandmother took during her pregnancy, and so my mom always pleaded with us to take care of our own. I lived with my dentist's family for a few months after high school, and I became a certified dental assistant when I was in college. Needless to say, teeth have basically always been a large part of my life.


Over the last few years, as I've gotten older, I've learned that my teeth need even more care. I've been blessed to never have any cavities, but as I've gotten older I've found it harder to maintain my teeth's natural whiteness, and to have a smile that I feel confident about. I've made a few changes over the last few months in how I care for my teeth that I thought I would share today.

Cleaning between teeth is a must: I used to be one of the many people who never floss. However, I noticed my teeth a few months ago were looking yellow around my gum lines, and that it wasn't being taken care of with brushing alone. I've added cleaning between my teeth into my regimen and was surprised by how much better my teeth looked after doing this on a daily basis. Just because there isn't obvious food between your teeth doesn't mean that there isn't harmful bacteria that needs to come out. The American Dental Association recommends you clean between your teeth daily.


Eating Healthier: I find that when I'm eating wholesome and nutritious foods, especially fruits and vegetables, my teeth physically feel stronger. There is nothing worse than that feeling that all your teeth are weaker after you eat a ton of candy or chocolate. I've found that my teeth look and feel so much better when I'm consuming less artificial and processed sugars.



Scheduling Regular Dental Visits: The last time I actually went to the dentist was when I got my wisdom teeth out in 2012. (If my dentist who took out my wisdom teeth is reading this, I'm sorry!) Derek and I will both be spending our spring break this year in the dental chair getting our first cleanings and x-rays in years, and I'm actually really excited to recommit to doing this on a regular basis. It's funny how we never miss a checkup for our kids, but getting ourselves in the dental chair seems like such a bigger chore.

Your dental care needs are as unique as you are. What works for me may not be the best solution for you. It's best to work with your dentist to create a home oral care routine that is specifically designed and catered to you and your lifestyle. The truth is, better oral care at home leads to better dental visits, and last I checked, no one really wants to have to get a lot of dental work done.


Some additional tips for healthier teeth are to make sure you're always doing the basics. Make sure you are brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between your teeth daily, drinking fluoridated water, and avoiding tobacco and oral piercings.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the American Dental Association.

9 comments

  1. I have never had great teeth and we have slowly over the years been adding kids to the dental scene as they get older, then I got myself in. This last time at the dentist before I went I said if I am telling my kids to do better I need to do better. So I started brushing morning and night really well even if I was exhausted or running late, flossing and using Listerine. When i came out of the office he told me there was a visible difference in my teeth, gums, whiteness and overall health of my teeth. It was an awesome feelin.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I use a flossing tool and a vibrating toothbrush along with a whitening toothpaste and a gum-paste. I also sleep with a retainer in because I grind my teeth!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Flossing is a must for me! I like To carry around some flossers too. You never know when you’ll be out and find you have something stuck in your teeth.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for being so honest and sharing your experience! I think what has really helped me is an electric toothbrush. It does the work for me, and the timer makes sure I don’t skimp on brushing time!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I need to schedule dentist appointments more frequently - I just hate going though. The upside of my dentist fear though is that I always floss and stay ontop of brushing three times a day.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I bought a sonicare toothbrush about a year ago and it's honestly been the best decision!

    ReplyDelete
  7. @outofthebeardedbarleyMay 17, 2018 at 3:46 PM

    I always forget to floss but I brush my teeth day, night and sometimes in the middle of the night. I usually can't go back to sleep if I wake up without brushing my teeth lol.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I used to be horrible at flossing, but now I floss religiously! I also use a Sonicare toothbrush and see the dentist 2x a year.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is great! I can only floss in the shower because I have a fear of putting my hands in my mouth in case there are germs on them. For whatever reason I feel clean enough in the shower to floss in there lol. I also make my own mouthwash of activated charcoal, teatree oil, witch hazel and purified water :)

    ReplyDelete