Article written by-Gravesen Lerche
It is crucial that you take excellent care of your teeth. The fast-paced world we live in, with "big-gulp" and fast food temptations on every corner, can wreak havoc on those pearly whites. Read this article to learn how to take better care of your teeth.
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.
Brush your teeth daily. Food and bad bacteria can settle on and in between teeth causing odor and dental issues, so brushing them helps to keep them clean. Brush them at least twice per day using a toothpaste that contains fluoride. The best times to brush your teeth are after every meal you eat and prior to bed.
Take your time when brushing. It is important to take your time. Don't be one of those people. Spend enough time brushing your teeth. Avoid just going through all of the motions. Thoroughly brush your teeth for at least a full sixty seconds.
Any dental hygiene routine should include flossing at least once a day. Flossing really does make a difference. Carefully place the floss between your teeth. Move the floss backward and forward. The floss should be near the gum line, not under your gums. Floss carefully in between each tooth.
Don't worry if your child chews on his or her brush. Chewing on the brush can help to clean the teeth in-between regular brushing. Not only that, but your kids are likely just getting used to the brushes. If you leave your child alone, he is going to allow you to help later.
If you are searching for a new dentist, ask to have a consultation first before scheduling an appointment. Ask her or him how their equipment is cleaned. While a lot of new patients do not think of asking this, it is important to know for your health.
The up and down motion is the best way to brush your teeth. That pulls out any food debris so that your gums are really clean. You can go side to side first, but you have to follow it with a down and up motion.
If you are serious about dental hygiene, it is imperative that you stop smoking. Smoking is terrible for your teeth in many ways. It discolors them, and damages your gums too. When your gums don't get adequate blood supply, you are susceptible to many different health problems such as gum disease.
If you are visiting your dentist for cosmetic reasons, always choose the less invasive treatments. For example is you are choosing between crowns and veneers, always opt for veneers. Veneers only require you to trim back a bit of your tooth, while crowns involve a lot more and are more damaging.
Limit your intake of sugary drinks and foods.
view it is one of the biggest causes of cavities. This is because the sugar is food for the bacteria that can eat away at your teeth. If you do decide to consume a sugary treat, you should wash it down with a glass of milk, water or brush your teeth afterward to prevent negative repercussions.
Get your kids excited about brushing their teeth. There are many great videos out there that can not only show your kids how to brush their teeth, but also why it is so important. Watching other kids and characters that they like displaying good dental care habits, will hopefully motivate them to do the same.
Don't always start your brushing routine by starting to brush in the same place each time. Vary your routine and it will help ensure that you are not skipping the same places each time you brush. If you always use the same routine, you may brush too hard at first and not hard enough at the end.
To maintain dental health, do not neglect proper flossing. If the floss you are currently using is too thin to adequately get between your teeth, try switching to a thicker kind, such as dental tape. Alternatively, you try doubling the strand of floss in order to achieve the desired thickness.
When your baby is six months old, it's time for their first dentist visit. This starts them on the road to good dental health by inspecting the gums and preparing you for teething. Bring them back every six months for the rest of their childhood and they'll never have dental issues.
In order to keep your teeth healthy and white, try to avoid drinking carbonated beverages and coffee. The carbonation in a soft drink can cause your enamel to wear down. Carbonated drinks, such as soda, are also full of sugar which is not good for your teeth. Coffee and tea can stain your teeth. In place of soda or coffee, increase the amount of water that you drink.
To help ensure that you are properly cleaning your teeth change your toothbrush every three months. Many of today's toothbrushes come with colored bristles that fade over time. This convenient feature is used to help you know when it is time to change your toothbrush. If you notice your bristles are not changing colors within three months, it is still important to go ahead and change your toothbrush.
To help your child maintain a positive attitude about visiting the dentist, put a reward chart up on the wall in your child's room. Every time she remembers to brush or floss, make a mark on the chart, or add a sticker. Give rewards when she has earned a certain number of stickers or marks.
Remember that your teeth are also crucial to your overall health. It's true that you need to take care of your teeth to prevent toothaches, keep your teeth looking beautiful, and keep your dental bills down. However, oral health is essential to the health of your whole body. Having tooth problems may lead to heart disease, diabetes, systemic infections, an inability to speak or eat properly, and many other things that could be fatal. Even crowded or crooked teeth can cause gum disease that results in tooth loss.
Teaching your child how to take care of their teeth is not as difficult as it might sound. While they may forget sometimes, it is up to you to remind them. Children lead by example, so you have to keep your teeth in tip-top shape if you want to show them how it is done.