8 Dental Care Tips to Safeguard Your Oral Health
Healthy teeth don’t happen by chance. Safeguarding your dental health is an ongoing commitment that requires a lifetime of care. Taking adequate care of your teeth means keeping your teeth clean, collaborating with a trusted dentist for professional help, and choosing the right habits every day.
Below, we’ve compiled eight best practices to help you keep your teeth and gums healthy and free of cavities and gum disease:
- Always brush your teeth before bed.
When you brush your teeth is as important as how many times you brush your teeth. Neglecting your teeth at night gives oral bacteria ample time to break down the sugars in your mouth, leading to cavities.
- Use the correct brushing technique.
When brushing your teeth, you must be careful to use short, back, and forth movements to eliminate plaque from the inner and outer surfaces of the teeth. Remember to clean the chewing surfaces too.
- Use fluoride toothpaste.
Fluoride remineralizes tooth enamel, strengthening it against cavities and sensitivity. Ask our dentist about the best kind of fluoride toothpaste to use.
- Wear a mouthguard.
If you’re a contact sports enthusiast, we recommend wearing a protective sports mouthguard every time. Custom mouthguards protect your teeth and gums against injuries.
- Stay hydrated.
Drink water after every meal to rinse out food debris and wash away acids in the mouth. Staying hydrated also reduces your risk of developing bad breath.
- Embrace preventive dentistry.
We recommend visiting the dentist even if you don’t have any apparent dental problems. Preventing dental challenges through procedures such as dental exams and cleanings, sealants, and fluoride treatments is easier and cheaper than waiting until an issue requires restorative treatment.
- Incorporate fruits and vegetables into your diet.
Crunchy fruits and vegetables are not only healthy and nutritious, but they also exercise your jaws. So please encourage your children to snack on carrots, apples, celery, and other healthy snacks once they’re old enough to.
- When in doubt, call a dentist.
When it comes to oral health matters, we don’t recommend making guesses or gambles. When in doubt, please get in touch with our dentist near you for a professional opinion.
Dr. Mansi Mehta, DDS
Dr. Mansi Mehta is a highly respected general and cosmetic dentist with a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from New York University. With over a decade of clinical experience, she has established a reputation for combining technical expertise with compassionate care. Before taking the lead at Smiles of Northlake, Dr. Mehta spent six years practicing in Connecticut, including service in a community health center where she provided care for underserved women. She continually enhances her skills through ongoing education and hands-on training in the latest dental technologies and techniques.
Patients trust Dr. Mehta not only for her advanced expertise in preventive, restorative, and aesthetic dentistry—but also for her warm, patient-first approach. Known for her gentle touch, clear communication, and bilingual care (English and Spanish), she ensures every patient feels heard and cared for. As the proud owner of Smiles of Northlake, she is deeply committed to delivering personalized dentistry backed by integrity, transparency, and clinical excellence. Whether she's creating smile transformations with Invisalign or supporting anxious patients through dental emergencies, Dr. Mehta brings passion, professionalism, and purpose to every visit.
Dr. Mehta reviews all clinical content to ensure accuracy, safety, and patient-focused value.