The complete guide: how to get healthy, beautiful and straight teeth?

Did you know that having straight teeth is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also of overall health? Yes, a beautiful smile undeniably contributes to self-confidence and feeling good about yourself, but with straight teeth, oral care is significantly easier. And regular and proper oral hygiene can prevent serious diseases such as cavities, gingivitis, etc. Let's take a look at the key steps you can take to keep your teeth healthy and beautiful, and introduce the proven daily practices that will help you maintain a beautiful and healthy smile for a lifetime.

A beautiful smile starts with thorough, regular hygiene

Healthy and beautiful teeth can sometimes be a long road. But it always starts with good oral hygiene. Let's recap the most important principles:

• Brush your teeth regularly in a suitable way: brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, which strengthens tooth enamel. Avoid scrubbing too aggressively, which can damage enamel and gums, and choose a toothbrush with soft bristles. 

Tip: Have your dental hygienist advise you on the appropriate type of toothbrush and check your brushing technique. In addition, they will also recommend suitable additional dental care just for you (e.g. interdental brushes of adequate size).

• Don't forget to clean your tongue too: Yes, plaque builds up on the tongue too. How to get rid of it? The easiest way is to choose a toothbrush with a back scraping edge and simply use the back of the toothbrush to focus on your tongue after brushing. An alternative is a tongue scraper or spoon.
• Use interdental brushes or floss: Daily flossing or brushing helps to remove plaque between teeth and prevent cavities.
• Consider using mouthwash: Mouthwash promotes dental hygiene by reducing the amount of acid in the mouth, remineralising teeth and cleaning areas inaccessible to the toothbrush and/or floss. Mouthwash complements brushing and flossing and contains active ingredients to maintain oral hygiene.
• Go for preventive check-ups: catching an emerging problem early is ideal - and the best way to do this is through preventive check-ups.
• Limit sugar, alcohol and smoking: it will benefit your whole body, including your teeth, gums and mouth.

What else can you do for healthy teeth and gums?

Include these foods in your diet for healthy teeth

For healthy teeth, we need plenty of calcium, vitamin D, potassium, phosphorus and vitamins A, C and K. Where can we find them? 

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• Calcium: Milk, cheese and yoghurt are great sources of calcium. If dairy products don't suit you, broccoli, carrots and salmon can also be good choices.
• Vitamin D: The body naturally makes vitamin D after exposure to sunlight, but this vitamin can also be found in oily fish, egg yolk and vitamin D-fortified beverages such as milk, orange juice and cereal.
• Potassium: Bananas are a well-known source of potassium, but not the only one. Other fruits and vegetables high in this mineral include tomatoes, chard, potatoes, sweet potatoes, avocados and prunes.
• Phosphorus: Seafood (scallops, sardines, cod, shrimp, tuna and salmon), beef, pork and cheese. If you prefer to get your phosphorus from plant foods, consider soybeans, lentils and pumpkin seeds.
• Vitamin A: For strong gums and teeth, treat yourself to fish, egg yolks and liver. You can also find vitamin A in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and lettuce, or in oranges or other orange-coloured foods. Reach for apricots, watermelon, pumpkin, carrots or sweet potatoes. These fruits and vegetables contain large amounts of beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body.
• Vitamin C: You probably already know that citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, but you can also find it in potatoes and peppers.
• Vitamin K: Eating vegetables such as kale and spinach will help you meet your vitamin K needs. Other great sources include parsley, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

Also consider herbs for stronger and healthier teeth

The following plants in particular are recommended for oral health:

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1. Canadian bloodroot: Canadian bloodroot is known for its antibacterial properties that help fight plaque and gingivitis. An extract of this herb is often used in mouthwashes and toothpastes to improve oral hygiene.
2. Holy Basil (Tulsi): Holy Basil, also known as Tulsi, has strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that promote oral health. Regular use of tulsi can help reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth and prevent gingivitis.
3. Camellia sinensis (green tea): green tea contains polyphenols that help prevent tooth decay by reducing the growth of bacteria and acids in the mouth. Drinking green tea can also help strengthen tooth enamel and protect against plaque.
4. Clove: Clove is rich in eugenol, which has strong analgesic and antiseptic properties, making it an effective remedy for toothache and gingivitis. Clove oil is traditionally used to disinfect the oral cavity and to treat infections.
5. Sage: Sage has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help fight gingivitis and plaque. Gargling sage tea or using sage extract in mouthwash can contribute to overall oral health.

These are basic and more advanced principles for maintaining dental health and oral cleanliness. But what to do if your teeth are crooked or not completely white? 

Crooked teeth are often not your fault

There are several factors that can lead to the incorrect position of the teeth:

• Genetics: hereditary factors can play a significant role in how teeth develop and arrange themselves.
• Bad habits in childhood: Prolonged pacifier use or thumb sucking can affect tooth growth.
• Tooth loss: the premature loss of milk or permanent teeth can cause other teeth to be misaligned.
• Injuries: injuries to the jaw can also lead to shifting teeth.

That's why if you're wondering how to have straight teeth without braces, you can see that many factors come into play and it's absolutely impossible to do without braces. Fortunately, modern dentistry offers a wide range of options for straightening teeth that are tailored to the individual needs of patients. The most common methods include:

• Traditional metal braces: an effective solution for more severe cases of misaligned teeth.
• Ceramic braces: a more discreet variant of metal braces.
• Invisalign invisible bracesA: Transparent plastic splints that are almost invisible.
• Lingual braces: braces placed on the inside of the teeth.

Once you've decided on braces, the aforementioned oral hygiene guidelines apply twice as much. Following all the instructions of the orthodontist and regular visits by appointment are essential for proper treatment. 

Book an initial no-obligation consultation for invisible braces today and get on your way to a beautiful smile as soon as possible.

How to keep your teeth straight and beautiful after braces are removed

1. Wear your retainer as directed by your orthodontist and care for it regularly.
2. Pay attention to your diet and lifestyle - limit sweets, alcohol, acidic foods and smoking, and instead include foods from the list above.
3. Consider using mouthguards for (contact) sports activities.
4. Monitor any changes - if you notice any changes in the position of your teeth, contact your orthodontist immediately. The sooner the problem is addressed, the easier it is to correct.
5. If you are not satisfied with the colour of your teeth (not only after treatment with braces), undergo professional teeth whitening.

How to white teeth

Few people have naturally bright white teeth all by themselves - it is normal for teeth to turn slightly yellow over time. We can therefore help ourselves to whiter teeth. Teeth whitening can be the next step towards a beautiful smile.

The most gentle and best teeth whitening is always provided by your dentist. This may be professional whitening at his or her office, at-home whitening provided by your dentist, or a combination of both. 

Often you will come across unproven whitening methods or natural methods of whitening your teeth (e.g. using baking soda and coconut oil). Be cautious, both of these methods can irreversibly damage your enamel and lead to high costs for repairing the damage.

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