10 Tips For Better Teeth Care

When it comes to dental health care, you may be confused by many of the misconceptions surround the practice of good oral hygiene. You may even be engaging in activities that harm your teeth unknowingly. Fortunately, taking care of your teeth isn’t difficult, and with these 10 tips, you can improve your oral care and prevent painful conditions with your teeth down the road.

1. Brush After Every Meal

Foods containing carbs, such as breads, milk, and sugary foods contain carbohydrates, that stick to teeth. The bacteria that live in your mouth break down these foods and release acid in the process. This acid breaks down the enamel in your teeth, creating holes where your toothbrush can’t reach, these holes are called cavities, and will only grow with time.

2. Floss Daily

Food gets stuck in the spaces between your teeth, where it can cause cavities. Floss daily to remove these stubborn particles.

3. Use Mouth Rinses

The tiny crevasses in your teeth can’t be reached by your toothbrush or dental floss and plaque can form here unhindered. You need something to reach these places, and an antimicrobial mouth rinse or fluoride rinse is just what you need. A regular mouthwash won’t do, it needs to specifically target bacteria.

4. Don’t Sip On Soda Throughout The Day

Acid is produced every time you consume something with sugar in it. That means sipping or eating sugary foods throughout the day is more damaging than drinking or eating it all in one sitting.

5. Eat Fiber-Rich Foods

Fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber help produce saliva. Saliva dilutes the acid that can damage your teeth.

6. Wait 30 Minutes After Eating Before Brushing

The acid from foods can form in as little as 30 seconds after eating. If you brush right after eating, the acid from eating could do more damage. Wait 30 minutes, then use a fluoride toothpaste.

7. Learn Proper Brushing Technique

Brushing your teeth properly is a skill, and like any skill, it takes practice. Hold your toothbrush at an angle, with the bristles aimed towards where the teeth meet the gum line. Brush for at least 2 minutes. There are a variety of videos online that can teach you (or your kids) proper technique.

8. Keep Your Toothbrush Clean

After brushing, rinse your toothbrush thoroughly with hot water, then store it in an upright position and allow it to air dry. Don’t cover it, that will encourage bacteria to grow on it.

9. Don’t Start Your Brushing At The Same Place

You’re more vigorous with brush when you first start and slack off as you continue, so change up where you start each time to ensure you brush thoroughly each time.

10. Brush The Backs Of Your Teeth

The area of your teeth, where your tongue presses against them is often neglected in brushing. Hit this area too to get rid of the plaque that often forms there.