Dental Care Tips From an Experienced Dentist
Are you too busy to brush your teeth? Too tired to floss? Remember that the health of your teeth depends on these dental care habits, so don't skip these chores. Follow these tips if you want to keep your teeth healthy, strong, and beautiful.
You should brush your teeth after you eat meals or twice a day. When you do brush, take your time. Make sure you don't forget to brush the hard-to-reach areas. You should only brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush. If you have joint pain or problems that make it hard for you to brush properly, you should use an electric toothbrush. In addition, you should replace your old toothbrush with a new one every 6 months or so.
You should floss your teeth after meals. You cannot reach the small spaces under your gums and in between your teeth with a toothbrush.
In addition to daily flossing and brushing, you should use an antiseptic or antimicrobial mouth rinse. A mouth rinse will help you eliminate the plaque on your teeth, eliminate bad breath, and help you prevent cavities.
You can prevent cavities and strengthen your teeth with fluoride. Fluoride should be part of everybody's daily oral regimen. Fluoride comes in supplements, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and some community's tap water.
You can keep your smile healthy by eating a healthy diet that is low in sugar. Sweets, sugar, and starches erode tooth enamel and cause cavities. If you choose to eat sugary foods and sweet snacks, then you must brush afterward. If you like chewing gum, you should only purchase the sugar-free kind. You should eat foods from the four food groups such as healthy cereals, whole wheat breads, vegetables, fruits, poultry, fish, and lean meats. Drinking frequent cups of coffee with sugar will also increase the risk of cavities and tooth decay.
Tobacco is also terrible for the tongue, gums, and inner lining of the mouth. Chewing or smoking tobacco causes cancer and stains. The health of your whole body and your oral health will decline if you use tobacco products for a long time.
To prevent oral health problems and gum disease, you need to turn to your dentist for dental cleanings and exams. You should visit your dental provider at least twice a year. In the meantime, call your dentist if you notice any oral health problems like red, swollen, or tender gums, gums that bleed after brushing or flossing, gums that start to pull away from the teeth, unusual sensitivity to cold or hot, and tooth decay. If you have tooth pain, you also need to see your dentist. Regular visits to your dental provider will keep your mouth, teeth, and gums healthy and gorgeous.
Finally, you should monitor your teeth and mouth in between dental visits. Take note of any dark spots on the gums or teeth, lumps, bumps, cracks, chips, and other unusual changes. If you feel pain anywhere, you should visit a dentist immediately. Also, keep in mind that many serious diseases show up in the mouth first, such as HIV or oral cancer. Diabetes sufferers are also more likely to get gum disease. Follow these dental care tips and visit your dentist regularly, and you will keep your teeth and gums in optimum condition.