You've heard it since probably since you were old enough to understand what your parents were talking about - that properly brusing your teeth (ideally twice per day) will go a long way towards maintaining healthy teeth and gums. A good brushing routine will also help prevent peridontal (gum, in plain English) diseases. However, it's important that you select the correct toothbrush for your personal needs and your teeth. In addition to having the right toothbrush, you'll need to be using the correct brushing techniques for maximum effectiveness. If you do this right - brush twice per day, using the right brush, and right techniques, it will go a long way to towards helping to ensure that long-term, you have good dental health. Doctors from the American Dental Association say that one of the biggest issues with brushing it time. That is, most people, even those who brush regularly, just don't give the process enough time. It's important to not rush through the process. It's recommended that three minutes or so is the right amount of time to brushing your teeth. In order to help with this, some modern, electric toothbrushes come with a timer that is built-in, so that the toothbrush shuts off when done. If you don't have one of these toothbrushes, then you might want to consider getting a timer, or using your phone. Most phones have a timer or stopwatch built into them. If yours does not, try looking the application store for your phone to see what you can find - many of them are free. When it comes to purchasing the correct toothbrush, be sure you have all the facts! Back in the ancient days, it was common for people to use small twigs to clean their teeth, and the Egyptians used ivory blades to scrape the tongue clean. Fortunately for us today, we have a wide variety of manual and battery powered options. Because the first step in taking good care of your teeth, gums and oral health is proper brushing, make sure you choose the right toothbrush for you and your needs. When choosing a tooth brush to meet your needs, a good place to start is to check and make sure that you see the ADA seal of approval on the box. This tells you that the brush meets requirements as set forth by the ADA. It's also a good idea to find a brush that will fit comfortably in one's hand, and in the mouth. The idea being, that if you have a toothbrush that is comfortable to hold and use, you'll use more often, and effectively. When choosing a brush, pick on that has bristles that are on the softer side, rather than the harder. Make sure it's easy to use - be it a manually operated or battery powered one. After your search for the perfect toothbrush is completed, make sure that you brush using correct methods, at least twice per day, so that you can maintain good oral health and keep gum disease at bay. Here are some tips on getting the most out of a daily brushing routine: While some experts recommend brushing after every meal, it's usually enough to brush twice per day; once in the morning and once in the afternoon Give yourself enough time to do this task. Most dentists recommend three minutes - that's 1.5 minutes on the lower teeth, 1.5 on the uppers. Use a timer if necessary, or an electric toothbrush with a built-in timer When going along the gum line, angle the toothbrush slightly towards the gums Don't brush too harshly - it's best to use a gentle stroke to help avoid damage to the gums Using a toothpaste that contains fluoride will help keep tooth decay at bay Be thorough - the goal is to clean the surface area of every tooth in your mouth When you're done with the teeth, brush your tongue to that bacteria that cause bad breath are scraped off Always use a clean toothbrush - and rinse it off after each use. It's also a good idea to use a small amount of hand soap on the bristles from time to time. It's also a good idea to look at UV light that can disinfect your brush after each use. Don't use the same brush too long - it's recommended that you replace the brush or brush head (for electric) every three to four months If you are in doubt about the correct toothbrush or your technique, make an appointment to see your dentist to become education on proper brush selection and technique. If you really want to learn more about how to properly brush your teeth, ask the experts! The next time you go to your dentist for a regular check-up, have the dentist or the hygienist demonstrate the proper method. Of course, if you are having dental concerns, make an appointment to see your dentist for a professional opinion. While all of these tips and suggestions are good to know about, it's not enough to simply brush your teeth. Be sure that you regularly floss each day, along with brushing and regular checkups with your dentist. The importance of flossing should not be overlooked – it’s the other half of the equation to brushing. They how and why of flossing will be discussed in another blog post.
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No matter what your age, it’s important to have an awareness of your oral health. As you move through life, it’s likely you’ll face different challenges along those states. By keeping aware of, and knowledgeable about these changes, you can help yourself stay one step ahead of potential dental challenges and look forward to a lifetime of happy, healthy smiles. For women who are expecting, they can give their children a head start by making sure they eat a wide variety of healthy foods and taking calcium supplements while pregnant. Mothers should take care of make sure they are getting enough folic acid, and take supplements when necessary. Taking folic acid will help to decrease the odds that a baby is born with a cleft lip and/or palate. After the baby is born, the parents or caretaker should clean an infant’s gums after feeding with a soft, damp cloth. This cleaning helps to prevent the buildup of bacteria in the mouth, much in same way that adults brush and floss for the same reason. Once the baby’s teeth do arrive, parents can use a children’s soft-bristled toothbrush to clean the teeth and gum line. Just like the parents do for themselves, the baby’s teeth should be brushed twice per day; once in the morning, and once at night. This helps to prevent bacteria in the mouth from gaining a strong hold and creating decay and/or gum disease. Believe it or not, children even as young as nine months can be subject to the risk of tooth decay. While we all know that baby teeth aren’t forever, they also need to last for a few years and should not thought of as being disposable. It’s a good idea for parents to continue to brush a child’s teeth until they are about five or six years old. By then, they’ll have the good habit installed and continue on their own. The reason that parents need to do this is that until that age, most children aren’t capable of doing and effective job when it comes to brushing their own teeth. Another good habit that parents can instill in their children is to avoid sweet and/or sticky foods. You’ll do your child more good keeping them full of fresh fruits, vegetables, cheese and crackers instead of sugary, sticky food items. Keep the food and snacks to the tooth-friendly variety when possible – you’ll be doing your child a real service. As one moves into the teenage years, it’s important to keep up the good habits that were passed on when one was child. Be sure to brush and floss twice a day, every day. Find a good family dentist, and make sure you go to your six-month checkups. It’s true that life gets pretty busy with school and social commitments, but thinking about one’s long term health will keep in mind the importance of actually going to see the dentist and keeping those appointments. According the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) about one-third of adults throughout the United States have some untreated tooth decay, and many are not aware of it. With tooth decay, because it can sneak in undetected and start to do damage without being observed by the naked eye, it’s important to catch any decay early one. To add to the complexity of this, tooth decay is often painless, and would only be known about during a routine dental exam. When oral disease has advanced to the point of causing loss of bone around the teeth, a dentist’s expertise and intervention will be required – and this might be an expense not fully covered by your dental plan, so there is the financial impact to consider as well. Dental health is also an indicator of overall health as well. If one’s dental health is poor, it might be true that there are health concerns to be addresses. For example, the use of tobacco products puts one at risk for lung cancer; but in addition to this, it can affect the mucus, the gums, and tongue. If someone is taking medication for health issues, check with your dentist to ensure that oral health remains unaffected. As the average lifespan is increasing in the United States, it’s becoming common that older adults are keeping their natural teeth. For older adults, it’s possible that they might need to see the dentist on a more regular basis, as they are at higher risk of developing health challenges. And those adults that have been heavy smokers or drinkers are at even higher risk of developing oral-health related issues. Also, because older adults are often taking a variety of medications, they sometimes experience dry mouths – something the dentist may likely be able to help with. If you’re one of the millions wearing dentures, be sure to check with your dentist on how to best take care of them, their proper use, and cleaning. If you’re experiencing unusually red or swollen gums, it’s a good idea to have a check-up and make sure the dentures you have still fit well. No matter how many birthdays you’ve had, it’s important to develop good oral hygiene habits early on in life, and keep those with you as you move throughout the years. Be sure to brush and floss properly twice per day, and see your dentist for regular checkups. Instill good habits into your children early on, so that they can carry those throughout their life. When in doubt, don’t wait weeks or months, in dental pain or with gums that are bothering you. Make an appointment to see your dentist right away so that he or she can help you with any challenges you’re facing. It’s possible that by doing so you’re saving yourself a good amount of pain, time and expense in the future because you took the time to do something about it today, rather than wait until the damage was done. If you don’t have a dentist, and are looking for someone that you can put your faith in, ask around. It’s likely your friends or family members can make a good recommendation. Many dentists these days have websites that will let you know about their credentials, their practice, what insurance they take and often, will have reviews. Check social media for what others have to say about the dental practice as well – oftentimes a great dentist will have many unsolicited, positive reviews left by satisfied patients |
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