The first people noticed in a crowded room are those with the brightest smiles. If for whatever reason, you’re teeth have looked a bit stained lately, have no fear! The following article is full of helpful tips and tricks to get your teeth looking brighter than they ever were before.
If you have questions for your dentist, write them down and bring them to your appointment. Once your cleaning and exam begin, it is hard to get a word in edgewise, especially with picks, pokers and mirrors in your mouth! Speak up beforehand, and a dental hygienist can answer your questions before your mouth is too full, or too sore to ask afterwards.
Don’t put off going to the dentist. If you wait until your teeth are bothering you to go, you may have a lot of cavities or other serious dental problems that could have been prevented with routine maintenance. You should visit your dentist at least once every six months for routine checkups.
Dental cleaners can be a real help when it comes to maintaining a healthy mouth. These small, one-time use brushes can make sure your teeth stay clean between your regular brushing. Some of these are sold under the names Sulcabrush, Oral-B Interdental Brush and Stim-U-Dent.
Brush, brush, brush to avoid plaque. Plaque is a layer of bacteria that coats your teeth. It is transparent. Plaque buildup causes cavities. You can remove plaque by brushing your teeth often. Ideally, you can brush your teeth after each meal. At the very least, brush morning and night.
Use fluoride, but not too much. Fluoride helps keep your teeth strong. It is especially helpful for children and teens. Too much fluoride, however, can damage teeth. If your city has fluoridated water, you may want to avoid fluoridated toothpaste. Ask your dentist to learn how to get the right amount of fluoride.
Eat fresh fruit rather than dried fruit to protect your teeth’s health. Dried fruit sticks to your teeth, exposing them to more sugar and leading to more cavities. If you must eat dried fruit, make sure to brush, floss and rinse as soon as possible after eating so that you reduce the risk of cavities.
Invest in a good antibacterial rinse. Use is after you brush your teeth. If your teeth or gums are too sensitive, ask your dentist about alternatives such as Sensodyne or fluoride rinses. You should know that using an antibacterial product remains the best way to slow down gum disease and tooth decay.
Saliva plays an important part in keeping your mouth clean. If your mouth always feel dry, you need to hydrate more regularly and use antibacterial rinses to make up for the lack of saliva. If you take any medication, look up a list of side effects to find out if your medication could be causing your mouth to be dry.
It’s important to brush your teeth at least twice a day. The first time should be after breakfast to get rid of all the gunk on your teeth from your meal and from sleeping overnight. The second time is before bed, ensuring that you clean off dinner detritus and daily build-up.
If you have a damaged tooth, always use tooth extraction as a last result. At the end of the day, it is always better to keep your natural teeth as opposed to choosing other, more permanent solutions. This might mean more visits to the dentists office, but you and your teeth will feel better about it.
Find a good health insurance with dental protection. The best plans will cover all your visits to the dentist, including two check-ups a year to get your teeth cleaned and inspected. If you can afford to, get a comprehensive policy for your entire family. Talk to your employer about benefits too.
If you are scared about visiting the dentist, the best thing you can do is tell your dentist about it. When your dentist has an idea of what scares you, the two of you can come up with a plan together to address those fears. He will also be able to explain to you the entire process so as to ease your mind.
When brushing, don’t forget to rinse between rounds. You should finish all your teeth, then rinse. Then do them a second time, then rinse. Lastly, brush your tongue and then rinse again. You can use mouthwash for the last rinse or just water, if you prefer, as both work well.
The key to a great smile is bright shiny teeth. With a nice set of pearly whites, you’ll be much more appealing to people you meet, and it will do wonders for your confidence. Make sure to implement the advice given in this article and you are sure to have great looking teeth in no time.
