Dental health is a frequently overlooked, but highly important topic which bears attention. The results of neglecting to take proper care of your teeth are significant to your general health as well as to the health of your mouth. By heeding the following tips, you can improve your overall dental health and avoid some of the issues that an unhealthy mouth causes.
Brushing Regularly Dentists recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day, and even as frequently as three times a day. Doing so ensures loose food particles do not have time to attack your teeth. The longer that food remains in your mouth, the more of an issue it can cause. It first breaks down and forms plaque. With more time, plaque becomes tartar, and tartar can build up and cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Floss Regularly When done in conjunction with regular brushing, flossing helps to ensure that loose food particles are not allowed to remain trapped between your teeth. In addition, flossing stimulates the gums and encourages overall dental health. Even if flossing has been overlooked, it can quickly have an impact. The affects of flossing are known to be significant and should not be overlooked.
Regular Visits to the Dentist In addition to caring for your teeth on a daily basis at home, attending regular checkups with a dentist in your city is a critical part of good dental health. You should see your dentist twice a year to ensure that significant problems do not develop. Even with diligent care, cavities and gum disease can develop. A dentist can both take x-rays and identify the signs of these issues. If such problems do arise, a dentist has the tools that are needed to treat them. From the ability to fill cavities to advanced techniques to battle gum decay, your dentist is your best ally in protecting your teeth.
Rinsing With Fluoride Mouthwash The benefits of fluoride along with solid dental health have been long established. Fluoride can effectively improve the strength and density of your teeth. With modern technology, using a daily mouthwash is an effective delivery system. Mouthwash has the added benefit of helping to dislodge loose food particles that you might miss with floss or brushing.
Replace Your Tooth Brush Every Three Months Regardless of whether you use a standard manual brush or an advanced electric toothbrush, the bristles breakdown over time and need to be replaced. Replacing the brush (or the head in the case of an electric) ensures that the bristles are at their best. Overused bristles lose their shape and are less effective. Although this seems like an easy place to cut cost, and is even easier to simply overlook, using an old brush significantly decreases the positive effects of brushing.
The above tips are the basics of good dental health and should always be followed. Failure to do so leads not only to problems with your teeth and gums, but can spread to become general health issues. As the very nutrition that sustains life begins digestion with the teeth, it is not difficult to understand how important this area of one’s health really is. Some experts have said that dental health is the single most overlooked, yet important, part of healthcare – in fact, most insurance carriers either do not offer dental coverage, or do so at an increased premium.