You probably know that it's important to keep your teeth healthy. If you don't take care of your teeth, cavities, gum disease, gingivitis, root canals, and other problems are in your future. While you know that you need to take proper care of your teeth, you might not be doing everything necessary to keep them healthy. If you want to avoid oral health hazards and have a smile you can be proud of, here are a few things you need to remember. If you have more questions about the items on this list, visit a Cedar Park dentist like, Jordan Family Dentistry, today.
Oral Health Do's and Don'ts
Do: Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. You should spend two minutes brushing after breakfast and two minutes brushing before bed. Make sure you floss just as often. Also, brush your teeth after any major meal or after having a sugary drink. Even a quick scrub will help you prevent cavities if your diet consists of sugary foods and drinks.
Don't: Don't brush too hard. If you use too much force while brushing you can actually do more harm than good. Too much pressure will cause your gums to recede and can eventually lead to problems that can only be fixed by surgery.
Do: Use the softest toothbrush you can find. You shouldn't use too much pressure while brushing, and using a soft toothbrush will make it easier to avoid grinding away your gums.
Don't: Don't think all electric toothbrushes are better than standard brushes. Despite numerous claims or awards from dental organizations, some electric brushes can wear away your enamel or cause you to apply too much force to your gums if you aren't extremely careful.
Do: Carry a portable package of floss with you throughout the day. You never know when you might get a piece of food stuck in your teeth during the day. And while it will make you look goofy and annoy you, that's not all a bit of food will do. Any food stuck in your teeth will increase your risk of cavities dramatically the longer it stays in your mouth.
Don't: Don't forget to floss the backs of your molars. You probably assume that floss is for getting bits of food from between your teeth. While that is one of the best reasons to use floss, it can also scrape plaque and food buildup from the sides of your teeth. Given how hard it is to reach your rear molars, keeping them clean is important unless you want a painful cavity.
Do: Feel free to chew gum, just make sure most of what you chew is approved by the ADA. Chewing sugary gum every day and not brushing or rinsing your mouth afterwards can lead to cavities. If you want to chew gum, don't chew sugary gum every day, brush afterwards, or pick a gum that is actually good for your teeth.
Don't: Don't use a mouth rinse that has alcohol or another harmful chemical in it. Alcohol is great for cleaning, but it has been shown to increase your risk of cancer.
Do: Rinse your mouth out with water after you use your mouthwash. Leaving even an alcohol-free rinse in your mouth will cause more harm than good.
If you have any more questions about how to keep your mouth healthy contact a Cedar Park dentist, like Jordan Family Dentistry, today.
Oral Health Do's and Don'ts
Do: Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. You should spend two minutes brushing after breakfast and two minutes brushing before bed. Make sure you floss just as often. Also, brush your teeth after any major meal or after having a sugary drink. Even a quick scrub will help you prevent cavities if your diet consists of sugary foods and drinks.
Don't: Don't brush too hard. If you use too much force while brushing you can actually do more harm than good. Too much pressure will cause your gums to recede and can eventually lead to problems that can only be fixed by surgery.
Do: Use the softest toothbrush you can find. You shouldn't use too much pressure while brushing, and using a soft toothbrush will make it easier to avoid grinding away your gums.
Don't: Don't think all electric toothbrushes are better than standard brushes. Despite numerous claims or awards from dental organizations, some electric brushes can wear away your enamel or cause you to apply too much force to your gums if you aren't extremely careful.
Do: Carry a portable package of floss with you throughout the day. You never know when you might get a piece of food stuck in your teeth during the day. And while it will make you look goofy and annoy you, that's not all a bit of food will do. Any food stuck in your teeth will increase your risk of cavities dramatically the longer it stays in your mouth.
Don't: Don't forget to floss the backs of your molars. You probably assume that floss is for getting bits of food from between your teeth. While that is one of the best reasons to use floss, it can also scrape plaque and food buildup from the sides of your teeth. Given how hard it is to reach your rear molars, keeping them clean is important unless you want a painful cavity.
Do: Feel free to chew gum, just make sure most of what you chew is approved by the ADA. Chewing sugary gum every day and not brushing or rinsing your mouth afterwards can lead to cavities. If you want to chew gum, don't chew sugary gum every day, brush afterwards, or pick a gum that is actually good for your teeth.
Don't: Don't use a mouth rinse that has alcohol or another harmful chemical in it. Alcohol is great for cleaning, but it has been shown to increase your risk of cancer.
Do: Rinse your mouth out with water after you use your mouthwash. Leaving even an alcohol-free rinse in your mouth will cause more harm than good.
If you have any more questions about how to keep your mouth healthy contact a Cedar Park dentist, like Jordan Family Dentistry, today.
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