Good oral hygiene is important for good general health. We learn more and more every day about the negative affects poor dental care can have on every aspect of overall health and well being. For this reason, it is very important that you not only visit your dentist regularly, but also learn to take excellent care of your own teeth. In this article, we will discuss some good oral hygiene practices.
Always keep your toothbrush hygienic. Make sure that you clean all of the toothpaste and debris from it after you are finished with it. Be sure to place your toothbrush in a proper toothbrush holder to prevent the bristles contacting anything dirty. Avoid storing your toothbrush inside a container to prevent bacteria from developing. Finally, do not forget to get a new one every couple of months.
If you notice that you are having some problems with your teeth, such as pain or chipping, you’ll want to go to the dentist immediately. When you try to avoid going to a dentist, more damage could be occurring. It’s cheaper to see a dentist when an issue first starts than it is when the damage has gotten worse.
Brush your teeth regularly. Brush at least twice a day – following every meal if you can. Carefully brush each individual tooth well, and keep brushing for no less than three minutes total. Use a toothpaste that has fluoride and avoid brushing too hard. Then, floss once you’ve brushed your teeth.
Take care of your toothbrush. After you finish cleaning your teeth, make sure you clean your toothbrush, too. Simply wash it off with water and place it in a toothbrush holder so that it is standing up. Putting your toothbrush in a case is not advisable, because bacteria is more likely to grow that way.
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.
Do you have extreme teeth sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures? Visit your dentist ASAP and use a sensitive toothpaste. This sensitivity can be caused by the inflammation of a nerve or the development of a cavity. The sooner you can address these problems, the better your outcome will be.
You can avoid a lot damages to your teeth if you quite drinking sodas. Most sodas contain extremely high amounts of sugar as well as harsh chemicals. Read the labels of the beverages you purchase and talk to your dentist about the effect of sodas and sweets on your teeth.
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.
Consider using a toothbrush with soft bristles. Your gums are very sensitive. Medium and hard bristles can damage them more than you know. Try switching to a toothbrush with soft bristles to protect them. You should especially consider switching if you already have any trouble with gum pain or bleeding.
Find a good health insurance with dental protection. The best plans will cover all your visits to the dentist, including two check-ups a year to get your teeth cleaned and inspected. If you can afford to, get a comprehensive policy for your entire family. Talk to your employer about benefits too.
If your kid hasn’t been to a dentist before or if they’re anxious about it, try playing dentist one day. Pretend to be a dentist and let them be the patient. With their toothbrush, count the number of teeth they have. Give your child a sticker for being good, then switch roles.
Make sure to visit your dentist regularly. Exactly how often you need to visit your dentist depends on your individual needs. You may have to go in every month, or not need to go but twice a year. It all depends on what your specific problems are. Always ask your dentist for useful tips on how to improve your hygiene and prevent dental issues from coming back.
The amount of time that you spend brushing your teeth is important. If you don’t brush them long enough, you can’t remove all of the plaque. But if you brush them for too long, you can injure your gums or even remove enamel from your teeth and cause permanent damage.
It is very important to brush your teeth properly and for a long enough time. One way to make sure you are brushing thoroughly is to use an electric toothbrush. This type of brush far surpasses the manual toothbrush in the number of brush strokes per minute, so cleans much better and faster.
If you aren’t in position to brush right after consuming a meal, think about eating a meal that includes firm foods that are helpful to your teeth. Some of these foods are popcorn, celery and apples. These foods will help keep your teeth in shape in the event that you are not able to brush them right away.
Remember to floss. Flossing is one of the dental habits people have the most difficulty with. According to research, fewer than one fourth of people floss every day. Often it is because they do not see the benefits immediately and they find it difficult to reach all their teeth. There are products, like flossing sticks, which make flossing less of a chore.
Clearly, there is a great deal you can do to maintain your own excellent dental health. When you take the time to choose your dental hygiene products with care and use them properly it will go a long way toward helping you maintain your overall health. Remember to brush twice a day, floss daily and see your dentist at least once a year for great dental health.
