You should always be doing everything you can in order to take proper care of your teeth. They are one of the first things that people notice about you. Sure, you go to the dentist, but what are you doing at home for maintenance? Keep reading to find out some great advice. A glass of water a day keeps the dentist away. Actually, make that eight glasses of water, or 64 ounces. When you drink enough water, you are less likely to drink things that harm your teeth. When you skimp on water, you fill up on soda pop, Kool-Aid, and other sugary drinks. While flossing is very important, make sure you do it gently. If you floss too hard, you can cause gum pain, irritation, swelling, and bleeding to occur. To get rid of plaque without harming your mouth, gently slide the floss back and forth in between your teeth. Follow the curves of each tooth in an up and down motion. You can introduce electric toothbrushes to your children starting at the age of three. You should always supervise your children's toothbrushing activities while using these brushes and make sure that your child understands that an electric toothbrush is not a toy and should only be used in his or her mouth. If you've just had a meal but don't have access to water, a brush and toothpaste, pop in a stick of sugar-free gum. Dentist recommended this as an adequate substitute until you can brush your teeth properly. Chewing gum will also help remove bits of food that may be lodged between teeth. If you have young children, it is important you teach them about dental hygiene. Show them how to properly brush their teeth and teach them to recognize the foods that will damage their teeth. They will have a better hygiene as adults if they get into the habit of brushing and flossing regularly. Be realistic about using oral irrigators. They really help with oral health when you use them properly. However, they shouldn't be used in place of brushing your teeth. They don't remove plaque either. Using an oral irrigation incorrectly can force bacteria into your delicate gum tissue. Some women's gums get very sensitive and bleed when they go through menstruation or hormonal changes during puberty. If this is your case, you can easily get rid of this problem by taking oral contraceptive. Go to the dentist to make sure the bleeding is not caused by gum disease. When you want to eat something between meals, try to avoid sugary snacks. These will just leave your teeth open to cavities and decay. Instead, have fruit or vegetables, or even whole grain carbohydrates. These are better for your overall health as well as your dental situation, but don't forget to brush after! If you are taking your child to see the dentist for the first time, don't talk excessively about the topic. Rather than helping your child, this may actually increase their fear as they will come up with more and more questions about the event. In addition, while it is important not to be negative, you don't want to tell your child that everything is going to be perfect because he or she might not have a great experience. If you have a serious fear of the dentist and conventional methods won't work, you might want to consider taking some sort of medication. Your dentist can give you anti-anxiety medication or nitrous oxide which will make the entire dentist visit a whole lot easier. Just make sure that you don't have any adverse reactions to the medications. Visit Shreveport dentist today. You should replace your toothbrush every three months. As you use a toothbrush, the bristles wear out. When the bristles become worn, your toothbrush can harm your gums. This can cause your gums to begin bleeding. For best results, choose a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles. When choosing a toothbrush, make sure that you pick one that will work well for you. Your toothbrush should be able to easily reach all of your teeth without you needing to strain to get it in all of the places. Make sure that you feel comfortable holding your toothbrush. When the time comes to find a new dentist able to keep you on the path to proper dental care, be sure to ask friends and family members for referrals. By doing this, you can be certain to receive the sort of professional treatment and competence you expect and deserve. Smoking not only causes discoloration of the teeth, it can create serious dental problems. People who smoke have an increased risk of gingivitis and oral cancer. Receding gums can leave the root of your teeth exposed, increase dental sensitivity and promote tooth decay. Smoking also inhibits healing after oral surgery. Be careful when you use a teeth whitening product. Problems can be caused by some products that are sold legally. They can eliminate that protective layer on your teeth. Consult with your dentist before using any such product. You should now be able to confidently say that you're going to be able to take better care of your teeth in between dental visits. Your dentist will be happy to see you next time with good news that he or she can tell you've changed your practices when it comes to your teeth. Be happy with the positive changes you're about to make. Leave a Reply. |