The Correct Methods Of Caring For Your Teeth
Teeth are very strong and will be there forever if you consistently perform proper dental hygiene
. Your teeth will benefit from a solid dental hygiene routine, such as brushing and flossing, but making those visits to your dentist every six months are also crucial. Taking care of your teeth helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease, the main causes of tooth loss.
Plaque is a white film that forms on teeth. It is sticky and contains bacteria that causes cavities in teeth. Cavities, also known as tooth decay, can lead to toothaches and cause teeth to crack or break.
When your normal bacteria in your mouth gets in contact with saliva and food particles, it forms plaque. It's no wonder our dentist warns us about too much sugar and starch in our foods, as the plaque they encourage produce acids that dissolve the hard enamel coating on our teeth.
During these attacks, the enamel is weakened and dissolved, leaving the tooth vulnerable to cavities. Gum maladies may also be caused by excess plaque. Plaque can harden into tartar and accumulate at the gum line when proper dental hygiene, including brushing and flossing, is neglected.
You gums may bleed or become swollen when you brush. This means you have gingivitis, the first stage in a very bad disease of the gums.
If left untreated, gingivitis can eventually advance to Periodontitis, the receding of gums that leave teeth loose and exposed. If periodontitis goes untreated, the jaw, gums, and surrounding tissue will deteriorate and cause the teeth to loosen.
The only way to contain and prevent plaque and the ensuing damage it causes is by practicing proper dental hygiene at home and maintaining regular appointments for cleanings at your dentist's office. Be sure that when brushing you're doing it properly; holding the toothbrush so that it's at an angle, and brush your teeth back and forth with short motions.
All surfaces of the teeth must be cleaned: outer, inner, chewing surfaces. The entire process should take a minimum of two minutes. When finished, also brush your tongue, but not too hard.
Using this method will clean the teeth, freshen breath and remove bacteria. It is in your best interest to brush your teeth after each time you eat a meal. Most people find it suitable to do it twice a day.
Use a tooth brush that your dentist recommends, make sure it's a soft bristle. If you begin to notice the bristles on your toothbrush are splaying, then throw out the brush and purchase a new one. Otherwise, every three months start fresh with a new toothbrush.
A lot of people make the error of believing that an electric toothbrush will perform all necessary cleansing. But in order to get rid of plaque completely where the gums meet the teeth you have to not only brush everyday, but you also need to use floss or another tool that will get between the teeth on a regular basis.
If you want to floss as best you can, here's what you do. Take a good length of floss and gently place it in the space between two of your teeth. Rub the floss up and down along both teeth and along the curve at the base of each tooth.
As you move from tooth to tooth make certain you are using a clean secion of floss each time, and that you don't forget about the last teeth in the row at both upper and lower levels.
Floss that is waxy will be easier to use. If you have trouble manipulating floss, try using a floss holder, or ask your dentist or hygienist for instructions. It's perfectly normal for some bleeding to occur from the gums when flossing hasn't been part of your normal routine, but if it continues for more than a few days, you should contact your dentist.
If you consume foods and drinks that contain sugar for snacks, you are making your teeth more susceptible to decay, since the time of exposure that your teeth have to acid will be increased. But there are also healthy foods which can prevent decay. Eating aged cheese immediately after other foods can neutralize enamel-damaging acid.
Water dilutes sugars and helps to increase the flow of saliva, so by eating crunchy fruits like apples and pears, you can help to wash away bits of food. Chewing sugarless gum promotes saliva production, which helps 'wash away' cavity-producing bacteria.
Calcium plays a vital role in the health of your teeth, and foods such as milk and green leafy vegetables are rich with calcium, an excellent addition to your diet. Tooth decay can also be staved off with fluoride.
Many dentists and doctors prescribe fluoride rinses or tablets for people who live in areas where fluoride is not added to the water. A dentist can also apply a fluoride solution to the teeth. If you want to have a healthy smile, check up with your dentist twice a year.
And if any area of your mouth is sore, you notice a change in bite, or you experience bleeding gums, see your dentist in between regular checkups as well. You can keep your strong healthy teeth for a long, long time with regular dental checkups and the relentless practice of great oral hygiene.
by: John Chambers
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