How To Take Care Of Your Teeth: The Fool Proof Guide
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is one of the most important things you can do for your overall happiness and health. Toothache is one of the most frustrating sorts of pain – it’s nagging and achey, and it’s very hard to get respite from it. It’s important, then, to make sure that your dental health and hygiene becomes a top priority in your everyday life. Here are some tips on how to take care of your teeth.
Go For Regular Dentist Check Ups
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that pretty much no one enjoys going to the dentist. Having someone leaning over you and peering into your mouth feels strange and disconcerting, and if you’re claustrophobic it might be difficult for you to deal with having someone’s fingers in your mouth. However, it’s important to breathe slowly and steadily through your nose and attempt to focus on something else so that you can endure the check up.
If you go to the dentist regularly, at least once every six months, any problems with your teeth will be picked up quickly, and if you start to do something about it fast then it will be easier to solve the issue. It’s also a good idea to make sure you’re used to going to the dentist, so that if you ever need to get any dental surgery you’re less nervous because you’ll know your dentist well and you’ll be used to sitting in that chair. If you’re having problems and you want to know more, you can always check out sites like Dentista.24Hora.org.
There are a number of treatments that may be recommended when you visit, depending entirely on your individual dental health. You might be given the all clear. You might need fillings. You might have to have a root canal. You could even require low cost dental implants. Whatever it is, it’s best to face the situation sooner rather than later!
Brush Your Teeth Every Day
It’s crucial that you brush your teeth twice a day. This removes plaque, which is a sticky film that builds up on your teeth and contains bacteria and can cause tooth decay and gum disease. To brush your teeth effectively, it’s a good idea to invest in a dentist approved electric toothbrush with a circular head. Brush twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, for at least two minutes each time, and make sure you brush all the surfaces of your teeth, including the backs. Make sure you don’t brush too soon after eating, as eating softens the enamel on your teeth. Waiting half an hour will ensure that it’s hardened up again. Make sure you replace your toothbrush every two to three months.
Make Sure That You Floss
When you floss, you’re cleaning the gaps between your teeth – this is where a toothbrush won’t reach, so it’s crucial that you floss as well because plaque and bacteria can build up. Curve the floss around each tooth and make sure you’re gentle to prevent from making your gums bleed.
Eat Less Sugar In Your Diet
Consuming less sugary food and drinks can improve your dental hygiene, as the sugar can cause tooth decay and cavities as it erodes the enamel after creating acidic build up in your mouth. If you can, start to put less sugar in your tea and coffee, and cut down on soda and other sugary drinks like juice, along with food like candy, pastries, cookies and cakes. If you still want to eat these foods, try to do so at the end of a meal, to give your teeth time to recover between meals. You should try to steer clear of hard candies – they cause more damage as they’re in the mouth for longer, and if you attempt to chew them then you could crack a tooth or filling. You should also cut down on acidic food in your diet, like vinegar, ketchup and pickles, as they cause dental erosion.
Note The Importance Of Fluoride
Make sure that your toothpaste has fluoride in it. Fluoride is a chemical that protects your tooth enamel that’s found in toothpaste and also in mouthwash, which you should use after brushing and flossing. It can help to prevent plaque build-up and gum disease, and as an added bonus, mouthwash also helps to freshen the breath. Swish it around in your mouth for 30-60 seconds to make sure the fluoride hits every part of your mouth, and make sure that you don’t swallow it.
Teach Your Children To Brush Their Teeth
It’s absolutely crucial to pass on good dental hygiene to the younger generation. Although you may think that baby teeth don’t matter all that much as they fall out anyway, getting children into a tooth brushing routine is very important at a young age, and you should also avoid sugary foods and drinks for the same reason.
Smoke And Drink Less
Like eating less sugar, cutting down on cigarettes and alcohol is a good tip to help the health of your entire body, not just your teeth. Cigarettes can stain your teeth yellowy brown – and your fingernails! – and they can also lead to bad breath, along with making you more likely to get gum disease and mouth and throat cancers. Alcohol damages the enamel on your teeth and encourages the risk of tooth decay. If you’re having problems quitting smoking and drinking less, talk to your doctor for some helpful tips or join a support group. Ensure that your friends and family are aware of your decision so they support you in it.
Get Your Dental Issues Treated
Aside from check ups, it’s crucial that you go to the dentist whenever you notice anything different about your teeth. If you have some pain in your teeth or gums, or if you have loose teeth, sore red gums, bad breath or temperature sensitivity to hot or cold food, then it’s important that you get it checked out so that the issue doesn’t get any worse. Treatment may not be pleasant but toothache and any permanent damage will feel considerably worse. Some treatments include fillings, which repair holes in teeth caused by decay. These can be made of amalgam or white fillings, which are more subtle in appearance but may need to be replaced after some years. If your tooth is infected, it will be extremely painful but a root canal can solve it by taking the infection out and ensuring that the tooth will not have to be removed.
A more common problem that people have with their teeth is when they are not quite aligned how they should be. This can either be a merely cosmetic concern, or in some cases it can be more serious than that as it can affect how you eat and talk and so on. If this is something that you are worried about, the good news is that there is a simple solution in the form of braces. There are a lot of questions around braces that you might want to know about, such as how much do braces cost, are they always visible and so on. The important thing is to make sure that you are getting the treatment you need.