Caring for your teeth is of vital importance to your general health. However, too many people neglect proper dental hygiene and end up with painful and expensive problems with their teeth. If you need to take better care of your teeth, the following advice can help you maintain a healthier mouth.
Talk to your dentist if you see blood when you brush. A common gum disease symptom is bleeding gums, which can become worse if left untreated. Gum disease facilitates maladies, such as the loss of teeth and bones, infections, and diabetes.
It is important to replace your toothbrush every three months. Over time, the bristles on your toothbrush become worn and stop performing as well as they should. In addition, bacteria can build up on your toothbrush and become embedded in the bristles. Replacing your toothbrush frequently is a core component of a good dental care regimen.
It is important to make things fun when teaching young children how to care for their teeth. Let them pick out their own kid-friendly tooth paste and tooth brush so that they will be excited about using it. Children tend to respond better when you actually offer them choices and allow them to make their own dental care decisions, within reason.
Drinking and eating citrus-based foods isn’t a great idea, as the carbonic acid in them can cause problems for your tooth enamel. Anytime you consume citrus fruit or fruit juices, make sure you thoroughly brush your teeth immediately afterwards. This can help to ensure that the acid doesn’t eat away your tooth enamel.
Remember that good smelling breath is a natural byproduct of managing your oral hygiene wisely. When you care for the health and cleanliness of your teeth, tongue and gums, you are preventing volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad odors. Foods left festering in your mouth is often the cause of these odors.
Keep in mind how important mouthwash is. This allows you to get all the areas in your mouth that your toothbrush isn’t capable of reaching. Rinse twice per day when you brush. Use alcohol-free mouthwashes, given that it can dehydrate your mouth.
Eating when you’re not hungry not only adds weight, but can also increase your risk of cavities. If you snack throughout the day, you expose your teeth to more cavity-causing bacteria, sugars and acid. Thus, you should eat only when you’re hungry in order to protect your dental health.
When you want to eat something between meals, try to avoid sugary snacks. These will just leave your teeth open to cavities and decay. Instead, have fruit or vegetables, or even whole grain carbohydrates. These are better for your overall health as well as your dental situation, but don’t forget to brush after!
Studies show that following up your healthy tooth brushing habit with a fluoride rinse can reduce your chance of cavities by as much as a third! That is a lot of potential cavities, so ask your dentist to recommend the most effective wash. Pick up a travel-size too and keep it handy for those times when you can’t brush.
If your gums are inflamed or red, you may have gingivitis. Gingivitis is a gum disease that is typically caused from not caring for one’s teeth. Bleeding gums as you brush your teeth is a big sign of gingivitis. Make sure you immediately visit your doctor whenever you experience any symptom outlined here. Not doing so can worsen the problem.
Get a new toothbrush every 8-12 weeks. Choose a soft or a medium brush since harder bristles can hurt your gums or damage your enamel. Get the highest of quality with a name brand product.
Where children are concerned, all toothpastes are not created equally; some are only appropriate for certain age groups. Very young children tend to swallow toothpaste more than other people, so there are non-fluoride, non-toxic toothpastes made especially for this age group. When they are older, the ingredients in their toothpaste become age-appropriate. You will find a special toothpaste for children and adults of every age. Babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers, school-age children, teens and adults all have specialty products to choose from.
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.
After reading this article, you should better understand the basics of proper dental care. By taking good care of your teeth, you decrease the chances of developing painful cavities or other problems. Try to instill good dental habits in yourself so that you will have a happy, healthy smile for a lifetime.
