Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Improper care of your teeth is linked to maladies such as gingivitis, halitosis, and even deadly infections. Like most people, you've probably learned since childhood that brushing and flossing must be performed multiple times daily. Despite this, so many people struggle with cavities, gum disease, and weakened enamel. Fortunately, there is much you can do to promote a bright, healthy smile.
It is best to avoid sodas during the day. Beverages rich in sugar can cause tooth decay and discoloration unless you brush your teeth right away. Excessive sugar is bad for your overall health, anyway. Keep up your health and your teeth by avoiding sugary sodas.
See your dentist at least once a year. A dentist can catch problems that you may not notice, and can x-ray your teeth to catch any cavities early. Your dentist can also recommend toothpastes and mouthwashes that you can use to care for your mouth while you are at home, too.
Be sure to brush two times a day for the best dental health. Morning brushing gets rid of bad bacteria that may have accumulated during sleep. It is also essential to brush before bed so that you get as much food and bacteria out of your mouth before it goes for hours without being cleaned.
Consider asking your regular dentist about dental sealants. Sometimes brushing just isn't enough. A dental sealant is a protective coating that goes over the portions of your teeth used to chew food. These are often put over back molars and can be very helpful in the prevention of tooth decay.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1d_QqcvTOicA0CRGiAxYbb_C6keJ2yA8dtQHfTgJ7R34/viewform?preview . Ideally, you should brush your teeth after every meal. If doing so is not an option, make sure you at least brush after waking up and then again, after going to bed. Regularly brushing your teeth is one of the easiest ways to prevent tooth decay.
Be sure that you're brushing your tongue. Not everyone remembers to take care of their tongue, but it is still as important as teeth. Your tongue is full of bacteria. Leaving this bacteria can cause it to re-deposit on teeth or cause bad breath.
Although they are very healthy for your insides, acidic things like oranges and orange juice can be brutal on your teeth. The acidic properties can wear away the vital layer of enamel on the surface! Whenever you do enjoy foods high in acids, be sure and brush well as soon as possible.
Use an electric toothbrush. Not only do these brushes help keep your teeth cleaner; they are a lot of fun to use, at least compared to a normal toothbrush. This will help you make your brushing into more of a habit. Plus, they are easier to clean and will last a long time!
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.
Make sure you do what you can to get rid of plaque on your teeth. The best way to remove it is regular daily brushing and flossing between your teeth twice a day. Brushing removes plaque from the surfaces of your teeth. Brushing with an antimicrobial toothpaste that has fluoride can protect teeth from decay associated with plaque. Flossing is essential to getting rid of plaque in between teeth and preventing gum disease.
Know your feelings on oral irrigators. They're a great help in reference to oral hygiene. You still need to brush your teeth though. This is primarily because they don't attack the plaque in your mouth. With correct use, these irrigators get rid of the bacteria, but if used the wrong way you end up with bacteria being lodged in your gum tissue.
The most important part of taking care of your teeth is to visit the dentist twice a year. They can do diagnostic tests to ensure nothing is wrong with your teeth in the parts which can't be seen, and they will clean and fluoridize your teeth to ensure they're strong.
Learn all you can about your teeth. When you know what plaque is, for example, and what causes it, you can better understand how to deal with it and avoid it. The more information you have, the more dental care will make sense to you. You might even learn something you didn't know.
Always thoroughly rinse your toothbrush after using it because the germs that you just removed from your mouth will be on the toothbrush. By rinsing it off, you will remove the germs and the remnants of old toothpaste which can build up. Follow up the rinse by tapping the toothbrush on the edge of the sink to shake excess water off of it.
As was stated earlier, a lot of people have nerves about heading to the dentist. The only thing to be nervous about, though, is the trouble that builds up in your mouth the longer you go without getting your teeth cleaned. Root canals and other forms of mouth surgery are more likely if you neglect your cleaning schedule.