Keeping your teeth their best

Keeping your teeth their best

If you practice good dental hygiene, your pearly whites can remain healthy your whole life. In addition to seeing your dentist every six months, good hygiene requires thorough cleaning of not only teeth, but gums and tongue as well. By performing good dental hygiene, you will be able to ward off decay and periodontal disease, which is directly responsible for the loss of teeth.

Organisms reside in the pale, gluey build-up that continually builds on each tooth, called plaque, and this causes cavities and degeneration. The conditions which allow plaque to form are the presence of bacteria in your mouth as well as the consumption of saliva and food. The fragments left behind from food combines with saliva, which breeds the perfect conditions for plaque. That’s why it’s so important to brush after meals. As you consume foods heavy in starch or sugar, acids can be produced that will wear away at your enamel, which coats your teeth.

When teeth continually confront plaque, cavities come about because the tooth covering disintegrates. Gum disease is also a major consequence of plaque buildup. If plaque does not get taken off the teeth by a brush and by flossing every day, it will form tarter, which will build up where the gums meet the teeth. The first stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis, and can be caused by swollen gums from tartar buildup.

In the more serious stage of periodontitis, infected pockets form and the gums actually recede from the teeth. If this problem is not treated quickly your gums and the connecting tissue around your teeth are destroyed, and it’s possible your teeth could fall out.

Plaque is managed by frequent visits to the dentist and excellent personal hygiene. Proper teeth brushing requires you to push against your teeth with an angled toothbrush, scrubbing back and forth across the surface. Pay attention to brushing your teeth on every surface from every angle – inside and outside – and don’t forget a gentle brushing of your tongue. By brushing your tongue, you will rid yourself of bacteria that causes bad breath. A good brushing twice a day is acceptable, but dentists recommend brushing after every meal.

Experts agree that you should use a soft bristle toothbrush for brushing. Toothbrushes should be replaced every three months. If the bristles become bent or splayed sooner, replace the brush. Quite a few people make the mistake of believe a electric toothbrush does a complete cleaning. However the only way to effectively remove all the plaque at the gum line and between teeth is to brush regularly and also to floss daily or use an interdental brush or other device designed to reach small spaces.

For optimum results, follow these steps to floss teeth. Step one, place a lengthy piece of floss in the space where teeth meet. Second, raise and lower the floss a few times, making sure that the floss curves along the tooth at the gum line. Find a spot on your piece of floss that’s yet to be used and move to the next tooth. Always hit the spot behind the tooth you just finished.

You can easily slide the floss in using waxed floss. If it’s hard to manage the floss, ask your dental expert for help or attempt to use a floss handle. When you first begin flossing as a habit, your gums may bleed or you may experience soreness. This could persist over a few days. If this lasts longer than a few days, call your dentist. Another issue beyond flossing is what you eat. Cavities are brought on by the consumption of overly sugary foods and drinks, due to the acids that are produced. Some foods can actually help protect your teeth by preventing tooth decay. Eating aged cheese immediately after other foods can neutralize enamel-damaging acid.

Crunchy fruits like apples and pears have a high water content that dilutes sugars and stimulates the flow of saliva, which washes away food particles. Sugarless gum will also make you produce more saliva, washing the bacteria away. Milk, yogurt and other dairy can give you plenty of calcium, as well as green leafy veggies and supplements, which will give you stronger teeth. It’s crucial to use toothpaste with fluoride, which safeguards against cavities.

If your water supply in your area isn’t fluoridated, your dentist may apply a fluoride solution to your teeth or suggest you use a fluoride rinse. The majority of people who have healthy teeth should make sure to see their dentist at least twice a year. Aside from those routine visits, contact your dentist if you experience bleeding gums, mouth pain or if you notice alterations in your bite. Robust teeth can last a lifetime when you take care of them and visit the dentist frequently.