You know you want a healthy smile. You may even have taken steps to make that happen. Scheduling checkups is one essential way you can help keep your teeth and gums healthy. But are there other ways you can prevent common problems, like dental cavities, leading to a healthier smile? There are several things you can do between dental dental cleanings to keep your mouth free of decay and disease.

Water, Water, Drink More Water

Your doctor may have already told you that you need to drink more water. After all every part of your body needs hydration to stay healthy and to function at its best. What you may not know, however, is that water is especially essential to maintaining your oral health. That is because saliva helps limit plaque’s ability to calcify onto the teeth, helping to reduce the risk of developing cavities and gum disease.

Water also helps rinse food particles and bacteria from the teeth’s surface between brushings.

Preventive Care Is Important, Too

Of course, no amount of dental hygiene and even the healthiest diet possible will not be a substitute for regular preventive dental care. Both checkups and cleanings are essential to keeping the teeth and gums healthy, especially long term.

Without regular dental cleanings, plaque can create an acidic environment that will wear away the teeth’s enamel, eventually leading to cavities. Gum disease is another common problem that develops because of plaque bacteria which causes the gums to become inflamed, and eventually can cause tooth loss, if left untreated.

To prevent these and other dental issues, schedule checkups at least once every six months.