Content writer-Banks Coley
Taking care of your teeth is not something that you think about too often, if you're like most people. There is a lot more to dental care than merely brushing your teeth twice a day. Here are some great tips to help you keep your smile bright and looking good.
Brush two times a day. This is not just a good idea; it is the ADA recommendation. Brush your teeth at the same times every day so that you are sure of providing your teeth with good care on a regular basis. These are also great times to floss.
If you are having a hard time brushing your teeth efficiently, you should consider getting an electric toothbrush. These devices are very efficient and will allow you to clean your teeth thoroughly without having to brush vigorously. This is your best option if you have arthritis or if your children do not brush their teeth properly.
If you suffer from bad breath, there may be an underlying medical condition. To ensure that your bad breath is not from an underlying medical condition visit your dentist and primary care physician. If after finding you have no underlying medical conditions you still have bad breath, consider using a mouthwash after brushing and using breath mints or chewing gum in between brushing your teeth.
Use a non-alcohol based mouthwash, or a natural one, each day. These products fight bad breath without burning the mouth. Alcoholic washes can cause dry mouth. Dry mouths can actually cause bad breath.
Check your toothbrush for how hard the bristles are. You want something that is soft or even medium grade. Hard bristles can actually wear down your enamel over time. You want something that can remove debris and clean the surfaces of your teeth, but not actually do damage to them.
If you know you won't be able to brush your teeth after a meal, try and eat foods that can act as temporary substitutes. Things like apples and celery are good for you and will act as gentle abrasion tools as you chew, cleaning the surfaces and even reaching between teeth to remove particles of food.
Everyone brushes their teeth, but not everyone brushes their tongues. Whenever you are brushing your teeth it is also important to brush your tongue as well. There are several different bacteria that thrive on your tongue so make sure you keep your entire mouth clean by scrubbing your tongue too.
It is significant to teach kids the importance of good dental care as early as possible. Help them to understand why brushing is important and how it keeps their teeth clean. Establishing good early habits will set the foundation for your child taking care of their teeth as they get older.
If you have braces or partials, you should consider using an oral irrigator to help keep your teeth clean. An oral irrigator should be used in addition to regular flossing and brushing. The oral irrigator effectively flushes food particles from between your teeth and brackets by using pressurized water.
Be careful about the advice that you follow. One myth is that you should brush immediately after consuming oranges, tomato sauce and other acidic foods. Brushing right after consuming any acidic foods can soften and damage enamel. Just rinsing your mouth with clean water and chewing some sugarless gum is plenty.
When it comes to taking care of your teeth, the best thing, you can do is brush your teeth twice a day. Most of us are good about brushing each morning, but not nearly as many people choose to brush at night. When you don't brush your teeth at night, you are allowing all the bacteria you've collected throughout the day to breed throughout the night.
When you are looking for a new dentist, try to find one that accepts your dental insurance. Going with an out of network provider can cost you a lot more money and it might make filing claims more difficult. Since you are already paying for your dental insurance, try to make the best use of it by finding an in network provider.
Foods rich in carbohydrates tend to stick to the surface of your teeth. Check the label of the foods you eat to find out more about the amount of carbohydrates they contain. It is best to brush right after eating these foods so they do not cause any damage to your teeth.
Never underestimate the importance of proper dental care. Brush your teeth twice daily for best results. This makes sure that you get rid of food particles after eating. These food particles feed bacteria in your mouth which can cause cavities.
If you aren't going to be brushing right after your meals, close your meal with hard foods that protect your teeth. Good foods for your teeth include apples, celery and carrots.
permanent dental implants are especially useful if you do not have quick access to a toothbrush, like when you are at work.
When you brush your teeth, brush your tongue too. This helps prevent the build up of bacteria that causes bad breath. You can also use a tongue scraper to get rid of the bacteria. You should do this every time you brush your teeth to prevent the buildup of bacteria.
If you've got stained teeth, try gargling with a little apple cider vinegar before brushing your teeth. The vinegar will kill off pesky bacteria and actually help clean those stains over time. Doing it right before brushing is especially beneficial as it'll increase the stain removal potential. It's a great one-two punch!
If you are teaching your child to brush his teeth, give him a sand timer that is timed for two minutes. The child can brush until the sand runs out. This will make it more enjoyable for your child to brush, while giving you an easy way to keep track of his brushing time.
If you are serious about proper oral hygiene, you have a wide variety of options to help you achieve your goal. Don't leave it all in your dentist's hands. Your dentist is counting on you to use self-help techniques to keep your teeth clean.