Fall is here and so is the inevitable flurry of social activities. To brighten your smile for the festive fall season, our KidsKare P.C. team would like to share four easy steps you can implement right away to help your smile shine with confidence.

Step 1 – Brushing is not just your first line of defense for a healthy smile, but it is also your ticket to a more attractive smile. Brushing keeps tooth decay and gum disease from taking over your smile by ridding it of oral bacteria that causes them. To remove dental plaque where bacteria thrive, brush (at least) twice a day. To boost your brushing goals, you can use a fluoride toothpaste to protect tooth enamel or a whitening toothpaste to lighten stains on your teeth.

Step 2 – While brushing cleans the surfaces of the teeth by removing plaque-causing bacteria, it cannot get to the areas between the teeth and along the gumline where bacteria hide. This is where flossing comes in. Flossing daily removes the bacteria lurking between teeth and along the gumline. Flossing also gets rid of embarrassing food particles between teeth, keeping your breath fresher and free from gingivitis (gum disease).

Step 3 – If you have discoloration on your teeth from the foods and drinks you consume, consider seeing your dentist for a teeth-whitening treatment to visibly lighten your pearly whites several shades. You can also keep your smile brighter by avoiding staining items such things as tobacco, coffee, tea, wine, tomato sauce, hot sauce, curry sauces, cherries, blueberries, and raspberries.

Step 4 – Smile confidence also comes from having clean breath. This means healthy saliva production through hydration, so drink lots of water to avoid dry mouth and bad breath. Killing germs will also help, so if you have problems with halitosis, rinse your mouth daily with an antimicrobial mouthwash to lower bacteria levels in the mouth.

We hope these four easy steps will assist you in your efforts for a healthy, confident smile this fall season. Don’t miss your end-of-year dental cleaning to keep your smile at its best. To schedule a visit with one of our skilled dentists, please call 575-532-5437 to find a location near you!