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10 Dental Hygiene Tips for Healthy Teeth

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10 Dental Hygiene Tips for Healthy Teeth

Introduction:

Dental hygiene is needed for a healthy body and you must know the smart tips to keep your teeth healthy and long lasting.

We’ve put together this content that explains 10 Dental Hygiene Tips For Healthy Teeth. Be aware and take care of your teeth.

[1]Think you’re in a good groove with your daily oral hygiene routine? Take it up a notch with some simple technique adjustments. When added up, these 10 tips will help you refine your dental health habits –and keep your smile shiny and bright.

Use Proper Brushing Technique

There is a wrong and right way to brush your teeth. For a more thorough brush:

  • Use a soft-bristled brush
  • Beginning at your gumline, brush at a 45° angle
  • Brush the outside of your teeth, inside, and all over your molars
  • Be sure to get every nook and cranny around your teeth
  • Gently brush your gums and tongue

Brush Enough

Brush for at least two minutes a session. Use an hourglass or your favorite song to help you and your children keep track of time.

Pick The Right Brush

Manual or electric, bristle and handle type, head size, and of course, color! When it comes to choosing a toothbrush, there are a lot of options. Select a brush with a soft bristle and small to medium size head as recommended. After that, the rest is up to you.

Look For The Ada Seal

Ensure that your toothpaste is safe and effective by choosing one with the ADA seal and fluoride – this will fight plaque and prevent tooth decay.

Floss Properly

  • Like brushing, there’s a wrong and right way to floss. Remember to:
  • Give yourself about 18 inches of floss
  • Wind most of it around middle fingers, leaving 1to 2 inches on both sides
  • Make sure the floss is tight between your thumbs and index finger, then gently slide it between your teeth, using clean sections as you go from tooth to tooth
  • Gently floss beneath the gumline

[2]Don’t Neglect Your Tongue

Plaque can also build up on your tongue. Not only can this lead to bad mouth odor, but it can lead to other oral health problems. Gently brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth.

Use A Fluoride Toothpaste

When it comes to toothpaste, there are more important elements to look for than whitening power and flavors. No matter which version you choose, make sure it contains fluoride.

While fluoride has come under scrutiny by those worried about how it impacts other areas of health, this substance remains a mainstay in oral health. This is because fluoride is a leading defense against tooth decay. It works by fighting germs that can lead to decay, as well as providing a protective barrier for your teeth.

Consider Mouthwash

Advertisements make mouthwash seem necessary for good oral health, but many people skip them because they don’t know how they work. Schwartz says mouthwash helps in three ways: It reduces the amount of acid in the mouth, cleans hard-to-brush areas in and around the gums, and re-mineralizes the teeth. “Mouthwashes are useful as an adjunct tool to help bring things into balance,” he explains. “I think in children and older people, where the ability to brush and floss may not be ideal, a mouthwash is particularly helpful.”

Drink More Water

Water continues to be the best beverage for your overall health — including oral health. Also, as a rule of thumb, Schwartz recommends drinking water after every meal. This can help wash out some of the negative effects of sticky and acidic foods and beverages in between brushes.

Eat Crunchy Fruits And Vegetables

Ready-to-eat foods are convenient, but perhaps not so much when it comes to your teeth. Eating fresh, crunchy produce not only contains more healthy fiber, but it’s also the best choice for your teeth. “I tell parents to get their kids on harder-to-eat and chew foods at a younger age,” says Schwartz. “So try to avoid the overly mushy processed stuff, stop cutting things into tiny pieces, and get those jaws working!”

Conclusion:

We hope the content lets you understand the various methods through which one can maintain their dental hygiene. All the possible ways are explained but never bound yourself. Keep looking for best suggestions for your good oral health.

For Assistance, Visit Apple Tree Dental

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

Article Reference Links:

  1. https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/brushing-and-flossing/ten-dental-hygiene-tips-for-a-more-thorough-clean# ↑

  2. https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/best-practices-for-healthy-teeth#8.-Drink-more-water ↑

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Fluoride – Myths and Facts

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Fluoride – Myths and Facts

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “Fluoride – Myths and Facts”. The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]Fluoride is a mineral that can be found everywhere, but we consume it most often through our drinking water. You may be wondering why fluoride has been added to our water and if it’s healthy. This article will give you the facts on fluoride.

Fluoride Sources

Fluoride is a mineral that can be found in nature, such as in soil, air and water, and in very small amounts in most foods. We also get exposed to fluoride through dental products, like mouthwash and toothpaste, and by drinking tap water.

What does fluoride do for our teeth?

Fluoride helps to make our tooth enamel (the tooth’s outer layer) stronger. Strong tooth enamel can help prevent cavities.

[2]Fluoride occurs naturally in water, though usually not at a high enough level to protect teeth.

  1. Fluoride is a mineral that exists naturally in all water supplies: lakes, rivers, and groundwater.
  2. Some U.S. communities, such as El Paso, Texas and Jacksonville, Florida, have enough natural fluoride in their water to prevent tooth decay. But most communities must add a small amount of fluoride to reach the recommended level.
  3. There are proven benefits to our health from having the right amount of fluoride — just enough to protect our teeth — in drinking water.

Fluoride has been recognized as an important nutrient for healthy teeth.

  1. Fluoride is a mineral and in the right amount, fluoride in drinking water strengthens teeth. Fluoride is not a medication.
  2. Fluoride is one of several examples of everyday products fortified to improve our health — iodine is added to salt, folic acid is added to breads and cereals, and Vitamin D is added to milk.
  3. U.S. court decisions have rejected the argument that fluoride is a medication.

Community water fluoridation is the most cost-effective way to protect oral health and advance health equity.

  1. Fluoridation is the least expensive way to provide everyone in the same community with a proven form of cavity prevention.
  2. A 2021 report by the National Institutes of Health praised water fluoridation “for its effects in reducing socioeconomic disparities” in tooth decay.
  3. A 2021 report by Public Health England focused on closing oral health disparities. The report cited four studies that “consistently found that inequalities . . . were less pronounced in fluoridated areas.”

Fluoridation actually saves money by preventing tooth decay.

  1. Evidence shows that across the U.S. people in fluoridated communities save an average of $32.19 per person (in 2013 dollars) every year in reduced need for dental treatment compared to those without fluoridation.
  2. In Texas, the state saved $24 per child, per year in Medicaid expenditures because of the cavities that were prevented by drinking fluoridated water.
  3. Water fluoridation saves the state of Colorado nearly $150 million each year by avoiding unnecessary dental treatment.

[3]Fluoride concerns

Children

Young children (under 6 years of age) who are still forming teeth can develop dental fluorosis. This is a condition that occurs when fluoride causes white and brown spots to appear on the teeth. While not pleasing to look at, this condition is not harmful and can be treated by the dentist. Dental fluorosis does not usually occur in adults or older children.

The reason some younger children have dental fluorosis is because they are being exposed to more fluoride than they need to keep their teeth strong. Not only are they getting fluoride from tap water, but also other beverages made with water that has fluoride added, as well as toothpaste that is swallowed by accident.

Health Canada recommends that children under six use no more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. They should be supervised while brushing and taught not to swallow the toothpaste. Children under three should have their teeth brushed by an adult, without toothpaste, unless deemed high risk.

If you’re concerned about the amount of fluoride your child may be getting, speak to your dental provider.

The bottom line

Fluoride is a mineral that can help make our teeth stronger and prevent cavities. Public health measures such as adding fluoride to the water have contributed to reducing the rates of tooth decay, especially in children. Most Canadians are not exposed to harmful levels of fluoride and should feel safe about the affect of fluoride on their dental health.

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

Article reference links

  1. https://www.unlockfood.ca/en/Articles/Dental-health/Fluoride-Facts.aspx ↑
  2. https://ilikemyteeth.org/fluoridation/fluoride-myths-facts/ ↑
  3. https://www.unlockfood.ca/en/Articles/Dental-health/Fluoride-Facts.aspx ↑

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Fluoride – Myths and Facts