Brush and floss twice a day, avoid sugars and sodas, drink lots of water – all important pieces of advice when it comes to keeping your smile bright and healthy. But even if you’re doing everything right, it can be hard to tell how well your oral care routine is working in between your regular six-month dental check-ups.

Luckily, the way your mouth looks (and smells) can offer a lot of insight into your overall oral health. Here are four spots to check to determine whether your mouth is healthy and happy:

1. Gums

Your gums are one of the most reliable gauges of your overall oral health. If they’re firm and pink, without any visible signs of redness, sensitivity or inflammation you’re on the right track. Bonus points if your gums don’t bleed after brushing or flossing.  

2. Teeth

Proper tooth alignment, spacing and colour are also good visual indicators for determining overall mouth health. Teeth that are misaligned, significantly crooked or rubbing against one another can serve as a warning for larger problems on the horizon. Same goes for the colour of your teeth – while teeth are naturally varying degrees of white, beige or cream-coloured, significant yellowing or dark spots are often signs of tooth decay or cavities.  

3. Tongue

You may not know it, but your tongue also gives some hints about your overall oral health. A healthy tongue is rounded and symmetrical, as well as consistently light pink in colour. It may also have a whiteish coating on it from keratin, a protein that helps protect your tongue from being scratched while eating.

4. Breath

While it’s not really possible to see bad breath, the smell of your mouth is a good predictor of overall mouth hygiene and health. While everyone has bad breath sometimes, especially after waking up or having strong drinks like coffee, chronic and persistent bad breath can mean an increased presence of cavity-causing bacteria.  

Remember, even those a visual inspection of your mouth can help reassure you that you’re on the right track when it comes to taking care of your teeth, there’s no substitution for regular dental check-ups every six months. Booking an appointment is easy, just use the orange Book Online button to get a second opinion on your smile.  

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