While general health care is important, oral health care is often overlooked.
Proper dental care involves brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, seeing your dentist and/or dental hygienist for regular checkups and cleanings, and eating a mouth-healthy diet.
Oral care also provides benefits such as preventing bad breath, improves overall health, saves money on costly procedures and makes it possible for your teeth to last a lifetime.
Below are some tips and suggestions on a beautiful and healthy smile.
Brush
Brush your teeth twice a day. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months or sooner if the bristles are frayed.
Use a fluoride toothpaste. Some fluoride toothpastes also offer tartar control, which may help slow the formation of hard mineral buildup (tartar) on the teeth.
When brushing, move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) circular strokes.
Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
Use the “toe” of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.
Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
Antimicrobial mouth rinses and toothpastes reduce the bacterial count and inhibit bacterial activity in dental plaque, which can cause gingivitis, an early, reversible form of periodontal (gum) disease.
When choosing a tooth-whitening product, be sure to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance – your assurance that they have met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.
Floss
Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Decay—causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. This helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions.
Don’t forget the back side of your last tooth.
Eat properly
Cheese, peanuts, yogurt, milk, and sugar-free chewing gum (especially gum that contains xylitol) are good for your teeth. They help clear your mouth of harmful sugars and protect against plaque.
Avoid foods that contain a lot of sugar, especially sticky, sweet foods like taffy and raisins. The longer sugar stays in contact with your teeth, the more damage the sugar will do.
Do not snack before bedtime, because food left on the teeth is more likely to cause cavities at night. Saliva production decreases while you sleep, so saliva does not clean the mouth well during sleeping hours.
Brush after eating.
See a dentist
Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams. Talk to your dentist about what types of oral care products will be most effective for you.
For regular cleanings and exams, most dentists recommend a visit every six months. People who are at low risk for dental problems may need only yearly exams.
See a doctor if your gums are bleeding, if your teeth are loose or moving apart, gums are swollen, or if pus is present. Also see a dentist if you have an injury to the face, jaws or teeth.
Source: www.msn.com/health and the American Dental Association.
