These 7 steps for a healthy smile are simple daily habits that prevent most cavities, gum disease and broken teeth before they start. Benjamin Franklin's line about an ounce of prevention was written about fire safety, but it fits your teeth just as well. At Southern York Smile Care in Shrewsbury, PA, prevention is where every healthy smile begins.
Most dental problems grow slowly and quietly. A small spot of decay or a little bleeding at the gum line rarely hurts at first, which is why good habits at home and regular visits matter so much. The seven steps below are the ones Dr. Steven Haywood, DDS, talks about with patients every week. None of them are complicated, and together they protect your teeth, your gums and your budget.
Step 1: Brush twice a day, for two full minutes
Brushing removes plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth every day. Left in place, plaque feeds on sugar and makes acid that wears through enamel. It also irritates your gums and, over time, hardens into tartar that only a dental cleaning can remove.
The American Dental Association recommends brushing twice a day for two minutes each time. Most people stop well short of that, so a timer or an electric brush with a built-in timer helps. A few tips make every minute count:
- Use a soft-bristled brush. Hard bristles can wear enamel and push gums back.
- Angle the bristles toward the gum line and use small, gentle circles.
- Brush the inside surfaces and the chewing surfaces, not just the fronts.
- Brush your tongue to remove bacteria that cause bad breath.
- Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on your toothpaste and brush.
Replace your brush about every three months, or sooner if the bristles splay. Our article on how often to replace your toothbrush explains why a worn brush cleans so poorly.
Step 2: Clean between your teeth every day
A toothbrush cannot reach the tight spaces between your teeth, and that is where many cavities and most gum disease begin. Cleaning between your teeth once a day removes the plaque and food your brush leaves behind.
String floss works well for most people. If floss is hard for you to handle, floss picks, small interdental brushes or a water flosser are good alternatives. The best tool is the one you will actually use every day. If your gums bleed when you start, keep going gently. Bleeding usually settles within a week or two as the gums heal. If it does not, it may be a sign of gingivitis, and it is worth having your gums checked.
Step 3: Wear a mouthguard for sports and grinding
A ball, an elbow or a fall can chip or knock out a tooth in a second. A mouthguard spreads the force of a blow and protects your teeth, lips and tongue. Basketball, soccer, hockey, wrestling, skateboarding and biking all carry a real risk of mouth injury, for adults as well as kids.
Store-bought guards are better than nothing. A custom guard made from a scan of your teeth fits closely, stays in place and lets you breathe and talk more easily. Some people also need protection at night. If you wake with a sore jaw or headaches, you may be grinding your teeth while you sleep. A custom night guard protects your enamel and can ease strain on the jaw joint. Learn more on our TMJ and TMD treatment page.
Step 4: Don't smoke or use tobacco
As if you needed another reason, tobacco is hard on your mouth. Smoking and chewing tobacco stain teeth, cause bad breath and slow healing after any dental treatment. Research shows tobacco users have a much higher risk of gum disease and tooth loss. Tobacco is also the leading risk factor for oral cancer.
Because smoking reduces blood flow to the gums, it can hide the early warning sign of bleeding. That means gum disease can advance quietly. If you use tobacco, regular checkups are even more important. At every exam, Dr. Haywood screens for oral cancer, and the office uses ViziLite, a blue dye rinse and OralCDX when a spot needs a closer look. Our oral cancer screening page explains how it works.
Step 5: Think twice about oral piercings
Tongue, lip and cheek piercings are popular, but they come with real risks. A metal stud or ring clicks against your teeth thousands of times a day. Over time that can chip or crack enamel, and a cracked tooth may need a crown or even a root canal.
Piercings can also rub against the gums and wear them away, leaving the root surface exposed and sensitive. The mouth is full of bacteria, so infections and swelling after piercing are common. In some cases, a piercing can damage nerves in the tongue. If you already have a piercing, take it out during sports, check it often for looseness, and tell your dentist at your next visit so the team can watch for wear.
Step 6: Cut back on sugary and starchy snacks
Every time you eat sugar or refined starch, the bacteria in plaque produce acid for about 20 to 30 minutes. One sweet treat after a meal is far easier on your teeth than sipping soda or grazing on crackers all afternoon, because frequent snacking keeps your teeth under acid attack for hours.
A few simple swaps help a lot:
- Drink water between meals instead of soda, sports drinks or sweet coffee drinks.
- Choose cheese, nuts, plain yogurt, raw vegetables or fruit for snacks.
- Keep sweets with meals, when your mouth makes more saliva to wash acid away.
- Read labels. Sugar hides in sauces, granola bars, dried fruit and "healthy" drinks.
Sticky foods like caramel, gummies and dried fruit cling to grooves in your teeth, so rinse with water or brush after eating them. Our post on hidden sugar lists more foods to watch.
Step 7: Keep your regular dental visits
Even the best home care misses some spots. Regular checkups and cleanings let your dentist find small problems while they are still easy to fix. A tiny cavity found early can be repaired with a small filling. The same cavity found a year later may need a crown or a root canal.
At Southern York Smile Care, a cleaning is a full 60 minutes, so there is time to clean thoroughly and to talk about your questions. Digital X-rays use up to 90% less radiation than older film X-rays, and an intraoral camera lets you see what Dr. Haywood sees on a screen. The office is mercury-free and uses tooth-colored, BPA-free white fillings when a tooth needs repair. You can read more on our preventive dentistry and dental cleanings pages.
How often should you come in?
Most people do well with a checkup and cleaning every six months. If you have gum disease, a history of frequent cavities, diabetes, or you smoke, Dr. Haywood may suggest visits more often. The goal is a schedule that fits your own risk, not a one-size rule.
If dental visits make you nervous
Many people put off checkups because they feel anxious in the dental chair. You are not alone, and you do not have to just push through it. The team at Southern York Smile Care takes time to explain each step, and you can ask to pause at any point. For patients who need more help relaxing, the office offers oral sedation. Our sedation dentistry page explains both options.
A few things also make the first visit easier: come with a list of questions, tell the team what has bothered you in the past, and bring someone along if that helps. Small steps add up.
Your next step
A healthy smile is built one day at a time, and the seven steps above cover the most important habits. If it has been more than six months since your last checkup, now is a good time to come in. Call Southern York Smile Care at (717) 235-3871 or request an appointment online. The office is at 4 S. Main St in Shrewsbury, PA, and welcomes patients from Shrewsbury, York, southern York County and northern Baltimore County, MD.
DDS cum laude 1987, US Air Force residency, NYU cosmetic training and Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, with 35+ years in practice.
Meet Dr. Haywood →
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