Can you confidently say that you take great care of your teeth in between dental appointments? Maybe you do certain things, but could you do better. Sure you could if you had more information, so keep reading this article to find out what you can do differently to help your teeth.
Remember that you are what you eat, and so are your teeth. If you smoke a lot and drink red wine often, your teeth do get discolored. If you want whiter teeth, change what you eat. If it's dark going on your mouth, your teeth are going to get dark from it.
Do not forget to remove plaque from your teeth when flossing. You should place the floss at the bottom of the tooth and gently pull it so it scrapes the plaque off your tooth. Do this for each tooth before focusing on cleaning the space between your teeth with floss.
Take care of your toothbrush. After you finish cleaning your teeth, make sure you clean your toothbrush, too. Simply wash it off with water and place it in a toothbrush holder so that it is standing up. Putting your toothbrush in a case is not advisable, because bacteria is more likely to grow that way.
Make sure that if you want to have good oral hygiene that you stay away from sugary drinks. You may not be aware that things like juices are very sugary and can do a lot of damage to teeth. If you're drinking any kind of sugary beverages, make sure to brush immediately afterwards.
Brush your teeth both in the morning and in the evening. Take your time. Many people simply go through the motions quickly and don't do an efficient job. Try timing yourself to make sure that you get your teeth very clean. If you have to, sing the ABC song in your head, and don't stop brushing until the song is over.
Consider asking your regular dentist about dental sealants. Sometimes brushing just isn't enough. A dental sealant is a protective coating that goes over the portions of your teeth used to chew food. These are often put over back molars and can be very helpful in the prevention of tooth decay.
If you've just had a meal but don't have access to water, a brush and toothpaste, pop in a stick of sugar-free gum. Dentist recommended this as an adequate substitute until you can brush your teeth properly. Chewing gum will also help remove bits best teeth whitening of food that may be lodged between teeth.
Consider using a toothbrush with soft bristles. Your gums are very sensitive. Medium and hard bristles can damage them more than you know. Try switching to a toothbrush with soft bristles to protect them. You should especially consider switching if you already have any trouble with gum pain or bleeding.
When brushing, don't forget to rinse between rounds. You should finish all your teeth, then rinse. Then do them a second time, then rinse. Lastly, brush your tongue and then rinse again. You can use mouthwash for the last rinse or just water, if you prefer, as both work well.
Regardless of your age, brush your teeth at least twice a day. Use a soft bristled toothbrush and replace it every couple of months, or whenever the bristles become worn out. Do prevent decay and strengthen your teeth, use fluoride toothpaste, rinse with a fluoride mouth wash and floss every day.
When you are brushing, handle the brush gently in your mouth. Proper brushing doesn't involve a lot of pressure on your teeth. You may think you are cleaning better with some pressure, but really you are just traumatizing your gum area in the process. This can lead to receding gums and pockets.
Regularly replace your toothbrush when it gets worn out. Using a worn-out toothbrush can redistribute old bacteria back in your mouth. It can also harm gums and teeth since its bristles are harder and spread out. It is recommended that you replace your toothbrush every three to four months.
Brushing your teeth twice a day is a great way to keep oral problems at bay. The first time to brush is in the morning, cleaning up everything, which has dried up in your mouth overnight. The next time would be after meals, and then just before bed as well.
Smoking not only causes discoloration of the teeth, it can create serious dental problems. People who smoke have an increased risk of gingivitis and oral cancer. Receding gums can leave the root of your teeth exposed, increase dental sensitivity and promote tooth decay. Smoking also inhibits healing after oral surgery.
Can't stomach the idea of swishing a potent mouthwash every day? Try rinsing with plain apple cider vinegar every morning instead. Swish for about one minute before you begin brushing your teeth. Apple cider vinegar helps to kill germs, fight stains and make your teeth appear somewhat whiter than before.
A dry mouth can cause major problems. It can also cause bad breath but the real danger is that if you don't have enough saliva then your mouth cannot neutralize acids or remove bits of food that is stuck in small places. You need saliva to help protect your teeth from decay.
Don't brush teeth too vigorously or often. It may feel right to always be brushing your teeth and things like that, but this could be damaging to you in the long run. You should gently brush your teeth no more than three times per day to maintain optimum oral health.
There are a number of over-the-counter teeth whitening products. They can make your smile look dazzling. But you also need to floss, brush and see the dentist regularly. Your teeth can look superficially white while you are suffering from gum disease or cavities. Teeth whitening is no substitute for proper dental care.
Feel empowered with the information you've just read as you work out a much better system for taking care of your teeth on a daily basis. You will be glad that you did. Stay informed, and see what your dentist has to say next time you pay him or her a visit.
