Content writer-Coffey Huffman
Dental care is an often neglected, but necessary, obligation. If you do not take proper care of your teeth, it leads to much worse complications. Tooth decay, plaque, gum disease and even heart disease are complications of poorly cared-for teeth. Follow the tips below to keep these illnesses at bay.
Prevention is the key to avoiding expensive dental work. Most dental problems are completely avoidable when you take preventative measures. Some important preventative measures are brushing your teeth twice daily, flossing daily, and seeing the dentist for a teeth cleaning once yearly. Avoiding sugary drinks like Kool-Aid and soft drinks will also help.
How much time do you spend on brushing your teeth? If you want to brush your teeth efficiently, you will have to spend some time on each tooth so you can brush both sides as well as the space in between teeth. Use an egg-timer if you want to make sure you spend enough time on brushing your teeth.
Many foods have the capacity to do great damage to your teeth. Avoid sweets or foods with tons of sugar. Don't drink coffee or anything that's too cold or hot. Using a straw will keep your teeth looking nicer.
You may be able to strengthen your teeth with fluoride supplements. Fluoride can really help to strengthen your teeth and keep them from staining. Make sure you lay off the fluoride, though, if you are beginning to find yellow spots on your teeth. If this happens, stop taking supplements and eliminate other sources of fluoride in your diet.
In order to keep your teeth in good shape, you need to brush twice a day rather than just once. Bacteria has grown in your mouth during the night and needs to be removed in the morning. It is also equally important to brush in the evening so that you can eliminate all the food that you've consumed throughout the entire day.
If you notice an increase in cavities, consider taking a multivitamin. Multivitamins contain many vitamins and minerals necessary for enamel production. Enamel is the outer layer that hardens your teeth and protects them. Your diet should include a variety of sources of calcium, which is the building block of healthy teeth.
Be sure that your tongue is brushed. Not everyone remembers to take care of their tongue, but it is still as important as teeth. Your tongue is a natural place for bacteria to grow. When you leave the bacterial there, it can get back on your teeth or result in bad breath.
Begin taking your children to the dentist at an early age. It is advisable that their first visit happen very soon after the first tooth comes in. The dentist can evaluate how the baby teeth are growing and look for any abnormalities in the tooth surface. In addition, he or she can provide you with some good tips on taking care of the child's teeth at home.
If you are moving from one dentist to another, bring your x-rays with you.
try this -rays provide valuable information about your teeth and dental history. They can help your new dentist to establish an effective treatment plan that works for you. Many dentists can even email x-rays, making it easy for you to transfer them from office to office.
If you are thinking about getting a tongue or a lip piercing, you should know that this trend could have devastating effects on your teeth and gums. A metal piercing could crack a tooth badly and having a piercing rub on your gums constantly will cause them to become inflamed.
Be careful how much soda you drink. Sodas are loaded with certain acids. This acid can cause deterioration of your teeth's enamel and can also cause discoloration. However, if you must drink soda, there are some simple things you can do to prevent damage and discoloration. Drink soda using a straw. Another choice is to brush right after drinking or at least to rinse your mouth with water.
Make sure you change your toothbrush once every two or three months. After a few months of use, your toothbrush's bristles will wear out and will no longer effectively brush. This same rule applies for electric toothbrush heads. If your toothbrush is wearing out before two months, it could be a sign that you're brushing your teeth too harsh.
If your gums bleed easily, don't just put up with it--see your dentist right away! Bloody, sensitive gums can be an indication of a gum infection that requires antibiotics. Infections can spread to the teeth or to other parts of the body, so you want to get them taken care of as soon as possible.
To avoid serious and possible permanent damage to your teeth, never use them for any activity other than chewing the food that you eat. You run the risk of chipping or cracking your teeth whenever you use your teeth to open a package, pull something that is stuck or crack open nutshells.
Often overlooked, but still quite important in terms of proper dental care is the subject of nutrition. By following a well-balanced diet that is high in essential nutrients, it is easier to stave off tooth decay. By steering clear of sticky candies and items high in processed carbohydrates, you will have an easier time keeping the surfaces of the teeth clean throughout the day.
Every time that you brush your teeth you should floss your teeth thoroughly. Flossing is the best way to remove food from in between your teeth, which will then greatly reduce the chance that you will get cavities. The more often that you floss, the better, especially if you do it after every meal.
Choose the right mouthwash. All mouthwashes are not created equal, so do some research before you get to the store. Check out active ingredients, and try samples if possible. You don't want something that's just fizzy. You have to be able to make your breath fresher and get rid of bacteria.
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.
Medications or vitamins that have a high acid content can erode the enamel on your teeth and leave you at risk for cavities, sensitive teeth or decay. Aspirin and vitamin C are two of the more common culprits in this category. Simply rinse your mouth after taking acidic medications or vitamins, especially the chewable ones.
In conclusion, you may have been like most people, uneducated about dental care. But, now you can see that there is a lot that goes into dental, most of which you need to know about to avoid a myriad of dental problems. Use the above advice to keep your teeth in great shape.