Americans are known for a lot of things. Caring about how our teeth look is one of them. It has been estimated that at least 99.7% of people in the United States believe that having good looking teeth and a nice looking smile is important to their social life. Approximately the same amount think a good looking smile is important for a person’s romantic life and nearly 75% say it is necessary for a successful career. Despite all of this, most people do not go to the dentist every six months as recommended by dental professionals. It is possible to prevent tooth decay at home. Getting children used to a good dental hygiene routine will get them started on the right foot, as will having a good pediatric dentist. Here are some other things people can do to prevent becoming the victim of tooth decay:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day. When you brush your teeth on a regular basis with a toothpaste that has fluoride in it, you do a lot to help prevent tooth decay. You need to brush for a minimum of two minutes. Be gentle on your teeth and gums when you are brushing. If you can manage it, brushing your teeth every time you eat can be very helpful. This means brushing after all meals and snacks. If you cannot do that, you can rinse out your mouth with water.
- Change your toothbrush regularly. Most people do not change out their toothbrushes as often as they should. When the bristles get worn down, the toothbrush is no longer able to get your teeth clean and it becomes a waste of time. You should switch out your toothbrush when they get to be worn down or every three months, whichever you remember easier.
- Brush your tongue. Bacteria loves to live on your tongue. Take a soft brush and make sweeping motions from the back to the front of your tongue. Rinse the brush after each pass over the tongue so that you are not just redepositing the bacteria on a different part of your tongue. This will lead to a healthier mouth and less tooth decay, which is caused by bacteria.
- Rinse with mouthwash. A fluoride mouthwash will augment the good that you do with the fluoride toothpaste and should be used after you brush, at least twice a day.
- Floss regularly. Using dental floss can get some of the plaque and food particles that you would otherwise miss by brushing and rinsing alone. It is one of the best ways to prevent tooth decay and can save your teeth from a whole host of problems.
- Go to the dentist. Most dentists recommend having a professional cleaning and dental check up at least once every six months but most people will wait three years between dental visits. Going to the dentist or taking your children to pediatric dentists is a great way to find small problems and deal with them before they become larger and harder to treat.
- Look into dental sealants. These are really great for children and adolescents but can be good for adults, too. They seal off parts of the tooth where food can become trapped and plaque can develop. These can be great to prevent tooth decay from forming and will protect your teeth from a host of other problems.
- Skip the bottled water and drink some tap. Many municipalities add fluoride to their water supply. This makes it very good for your teeth and will help you in your quest to prevent tooth decay. Drinking more water also keeps you well hydrated. That will encourage the production of saliva, which helps keep the level of bacteria down.
- Eat the right foods. Dairy products have calcium, which your teeth need. Fresh vegetables, especially crunchy ones can clean your teeth as you eat them. Other foods and drinks that are good for your teeth include fresh vegetables, sugar free gum and unsweetened tea and coffee. Keeping healthy overall by eating healthy foods can help your mouth stay healthy as well.
Preventing tooth decay is an important step in staying healthy overall. These tips can help you do just that.
