Like many people, your current dental regimen focuses only on brushing your teeth and flossing occasionally. Actually, taking care of your mouth doesn't always start with your teeth. Lifestyle habits, health conditions, and even heredity can all influence oral health. As you will soon see, there are countless simple things you can do to care for your mouth, teeth, and gums.
One of the first things people notice about you is your pearly white smile, whether you realize it or not. This is why you want to ensure that your teeth are looking their best at all times. Brushing and flossing your teeth everyday can ensure that you are flashing everyone your very best smile.
Remember to brush two or three times daily for healthy, clean teeth. As a best practice, brush your teeth before bed and after you wake up, and after each meal as well. If it is not possible to brush your teeth following a meal, chewing some sugar-free gum can help with cleaning your teeth and freshening your breath.
In order to save tooth enamel, refrain from brushing too hard and select a soft or medium bristle toothbrush. Brushing too hard can actually wear down tooth enamel and once the enamel is gone, it cannot be replaced! Using a hard bristle brush also can be detrimental to the enamel. Using the proper brush and technique can go a long way in preserving your tooth enamel.
Make sure the tools you are using to clean your teeth are appropriate for your needs. Find a soft-bristled brush that feels good in your mouth (not too large or too small). Pick out a fluoride toothpaste that you are comfortable with. If you don't think, you are doing a good job brushing, think about getting an electronic brush that will do a lot of the work for you.
To prevent cavities and keep your teeth as healthy as possible, brush your teeth after every single meal. The longer that food remains in your mouth, the greater the chance for decay. Although brushing immediately after meals is not always possible, try your best. If you are unable to brush, chewing on some dental gum is a good alternative.
Eat more crunchy vegetables. Vegetables like carrots and celery contain nutrients and vitamins that help your teeth and gums. Not only that, but they also help to clean your teeth. Eating them helps to rid your teeth of food debris and plaque. They work very much like natural tooth brushes.
Home whitening kits are a great short-term fix for lightly stained teeth. However, many people report burning and increased sensitivity caused by the gel uses in the kits. If oral sensitivity is turning you off of home whitening, use a fluoride gel immediately before and after you apply the whitening product. Your teeth will be noticeably less sensitive.
There are several natural ways to whiten your teeth, so do not believe that spending a ton on whitening agents is your only option. Eating crunchy foods like celery, apples and carrots is a good way to naturally lift stains from teeth without the threat of damaging the enamel on them.
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.
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.
Many dentists recommend an electric toothbrush for all of their patients, mostly because they work so well without having to brush vigorously. The job can be done more quickly, and the head of the brush is small so it can get into all places. In the end, they just do a better job.
If you suspect something is wrong with your teeth, take care of it immediately. Dental problems can be major ones. Some can even be life http://www.realself.com/braces/answers/underbite threatening. Be sure to take your dental health http://www.faceliftdentistry.com/overbite/ seriously. Don't avoid the dentist. If something is clearly wrong, make an appointment as soon as you are able.
Electric toothbrushes are the best way for kids to clean their teeth. Your child will clean his teeth somewhat and loosen debris even if he or she doesn't put a lot of effort into using this type of brush.
Be careful how much soda you drink. That's because sodas are loaded with acid. Acid causes yellowness and slowly destroys your teeth's enamel. Frequent soda drinkers can take measures to prevent this. Use a straw when drinking soda. Also, rinse your mouth and brush your teeth using a soft toothbrush.
Your teeth can be damaged by hard foods like popcorn kernels, hard candies, and lollipops. If you have partials, fillings or other dental work, they can cause some serious damage. Popcorn kernels can also get stuck up in your gums which causes inflammation.
Be careful to avoid biting any hard surfaces because you can crack the enamel on your teeth. Do not chew ice even though that may be enjoyable on a hot summer day. The ice can make your teeth brittle and the enamel can be damaged without you even being aware of it.
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.
Now there should be nothing stopping you from achieving that pearly white smile that you see other people have but have always wanted for yourself. It's a possibility now if you just stick to the tips that you read here. Keep them close by so you don't ever forget these helpful tips.
