You have probably heard the famous phrase “an apple a day will keep the doctor away.” If that were the case, then we can replace our dentist with an apple. Unfortunately, keeping our teeth healthy is far more complicated than just an apple. We often wonder why we get so many cavities when we brush our teeth on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, dentists usually have white and healthy teeth. Then again, this is their profession, so it’s obvious that they have some secret method to keep their teeth healthy. As funny as this might sound, dentists are humans like you and me, and they do not have any secret methods. They use the same methods and techniques that we use, except they do it correctly.
Brushing
Brushing our teeth is something we do on a daily basis. Everybody knows how to brush their teeth, but not everybody knows how to do it properly. The first thing about brushing is getting the proper toothbrush. You don’t want a toothbrush that’s too big or too small, so it’s crucial to get the one that fits perfectly in your mouth. Ideally, you want to get a new toothbrush every six months, but if you notice that your brush is getting rusty, then get a new one immediately. This is why your dentist gives you a brush and toothpaste after your appointment. They are sharing their magical secrets with you. A lot of people usually brush once a day in the morning, but that’s not enough. It is important to brush twice today, one in the morning and one at night. When you eat throughout the day, food particles get stuck between your teeth. You want to brush them out before you go to bed. Bacteria will invade your teeth and gums at night while you are asleep. This is why when you wake up in the morning, you are more likely to have bad breath. A lot of times, you might feel like you are in a hurry, so you only brush for a couple of seconds. The thing is, it should take about two minutes or more to brush her teeth. People often brush for a minute, but that is not enough. You will need to brush thoroughly from front to back and inside your teeth. The back part of your teeth is very prone to Cavity because it’s hard to reach, so it’s critical to get to that part. Make sure to brush your gums gently because food particles can also get stuck there and can lead to infection and inflammation of the gum. Once you are done brushing your teeth, don’t forget to brush your tongue. The tongue is also filled with bacteria and germs, and it’s a good idea to brush them away. This will reduce bad breath and odor from your mouth.
Flossing
A lot of people don’t floss, but this is the most important part in preventing cavities. Flossing helps remove small food particles that are stuck between the teeth and the gums. When you first floss, it can be very painful because your gums are not used to the pressure of the floss. If your gums bleed, that is not a good sign. It means that food particles have made your gums very sensitive and weak. However, as you floss on a daily basis, your gums will get accustomed to the pressure. After a while, your gums will not bleed, and that is a good sign of a healthy teeth. It’s important to floss twice a day on a daily basis.
Mouthwash
Listerine mouthwash is an excellent brand to get rid of cavity and bad breath. After you brush your teeth and floss, it’s essential to swish the mouthwash for 30 seconds in your mouth. You will feel the burning sensation, but its worth it. If you do this twice per day on a daily basis, you are on your way to a healthier smile.
Visiting your dentist
We all have busy schedules, and it is normal for people to skip their dental appointment. However, this can be very bad for your smile. When you go to a dental appointment, the dentist will do a thorough examination of your teeth and initiate an imaging exam to check for cavities. Once they find the cavity, they can fill it up to fix it. The dentist appointment also provides teeth cleaning to further improve the health of your teeth. In fact, dental professionals also have their own dentist that they visit twice a year, which translate to once every six months.
Healthy food and drinks
Proper teeth cleaning and technique is not the only important factor to ensure that you have a healthy smile, but a healthy lifestyle plays a significant role as well. High fatty and sugary food can cause bacteria to grow between your teeth and gums. This is why people always say that eating too much candy will lead to a cavity. After all, kids are ten times more likely than adults to have cavities because of their love for sweets. Healthy food such as vegetables and white meat is not only healthy for your body, but also for your teeth. In addition, highly acidic beverages such a soda, tea, and coffee can be very erosive to your enamel. This can weaken your teeth and make you susceptible to cavities. Then again, it’s very hard to give up your morning cup of coffee, fortunately, there is a way to do this. Instead of having 5 cups of coffee a day, limit your coffee consumption to 1 to 2 cups a day. Another strategy is to brush, floss, and use mouthwash right after your cup of coffee. That way you can wash away the acidic content from your teeth.
Daily dental care is an important part of life. You use your teeth to eat and smile, so you want to take great care of them. At East Valley Dental Professionals, we don’t just check for cavities and clean your teeth; we also educate patients about caring for their teeth. Our professionals take very good care of their own teeth, so they want to ensure that their patients are well-informed about their dental health. That way, they will be able to enjoy a beautiful and healthy smile just like we do. Our practice focuses on guiding patients and teaching them to be in control of their dental health like a real dentist.