Tips for Great Dental Health
Brush after meals. This is pretty basic, but the basics are the building blocks for great dental health. Tooth decay happens because of plaque build up on teeth. Plaque is a sticky clear film of bacteria that makes acid. This acid mixes with the food we eat, especially sugars. The combination of plaque and sugars eats away at the enamel of the tooth. Eventually, the enamel gives way to the dentin and the nerves and roots of the teeth. This decay can be incredibly painful and is very bad for overall health. Simply brushing after meals removes food particles from around the teeth, in between teeth, around gum lines, and etc. Getting this food off of the surface of the tooth is a great way to maintain great dental health. Brushing also helps remove plaque build up on the tooth as well.
Floss each day. It can be annoying or embarrassing to confess to the dental hygienist that we aren’t flossing each day. But, she only asks to make sure that we are doing everything possible for great dental health! Sometimes we avoid flossing because it hurts or it makes our gums bleed. This is just another indication that we really should be flossing, because it shouldn’t hurt if our gums are healthy.
See your dentist regularly. The dentist is your best friend when it comes to great dental health. She can scrape away calculus and plaque in ways that a toothbrush and floss only dream about doing. Dentists also use x-rays to check for potential cavities that are not visible to the human eye. They can also point out problem spots that need extra care during regular hygiene.
Good nutrition. Having good eating habits does so much for the body that it is no surprise it has great effects on dental health. Teeth are made of calcium, so they need lots of good calcium to develop well. Teeth also need strong bones to hold them in place, and strong bones come from having enough calcium. Good nutrition should include enough calcium to take care of teeth and bones. Good nutrition should also include being careful about how much sugary foods, snacks, and sodas are eaten.
Use fluoride. Fluoride helps teeth to be healthy and strong. Fluoride is absorbed by the enamel of the tooth, or the hard glossy outer coating. If the enamel is stronger it can resists plaque better and it can resist tooth decay better as well. Fluoride does the most good for teeth when it is ingested and when it is applied topically. Most cities recognize the great health benefit of fluoride and so they supplement the public water system with it. Check with local authorities to see if water fluoridation exists in your city. To receive fluoride topically, purchase fluoride enhanced toothpaste. Also, visit your dentist and receive fluoride treatments. Fluoride strengthens teeth and makes for great dental health.
Tags: Dental Health, Fluoride, Tooth Decay