Take care of your teeth now and you will be grateful you did in years to come....
ᴿᴹ Brush teeth BEFORE breakfast.
I was floored the first time I heard that people brush their teeth after breakfast; never realised that this was even a debate. After all, why would anyone want to put a spoon into their unwashed morning mouths. But then they explained after having their breakfast, they would brush their teeth and their mouths would be clean; and of course, the spoon does get washed too!
However, that is not good for the enamel of your teeth. You should brush your teeth before breakfast. When you eat breakfast, there may be some remnants of acidic food on your teeth. Brushing your teeth after breakfast will mean you're brushing your teeth with acid and in time, that can cause a lot of damage.
ᴿᴹ Don't skip brushing your teeth at night
We've all been there where we feel too tired to move our bodies at night. We just want to collapse onto our bed and fall asleep. But force yourself into the bathroom and brush your teeth, even if you do nothing else.
Brushing your teeth at night prevents plaque build up. If plaque is left on the enamel of your teeth, it can calcify which can lead to tartar. Tartar would need to be treated by your dentist.
ᴿᴹ Brush correctly
There is a right and wrong way to brush your teeth. Use your toothbrush to go along your gum line. When brushing along this part, do some flicking motions so you can be sure you are removing any food particles left from the day. This should be done for the top and bottom set. Next brush the inside surface of your teeth and then run your brush along the roof of your mouth.
ᴿᴹ Clean your tongue
Don't forget to clean your tongue. You can use a scraper or the back of your toothbrush to clean your tongue. Debris, bacteria and dead cells all build up on your tongue if left uncleaned. This can lead to bad breath.
ᴿᴹ Mouthwash
Mouthwash is an optional part of your dental care routine. It is often mistakenly used straight after brushing teeth however, this is not the right way and can in fact be harmful.
Toothpaste has more fluoride compared to your mouthwash so when you use mouthwash straight after brushing your teeth, there is less active fluoride working to protect your mouth. So, if you want to use mouthwash, give yourself some time (approximately 1 hour) after brushing your teeth. That way, you get the protection from both the toothbrush and mouthwash.
ᴿᴹ Spit, don't rinse
This may sound weird but after you brush your teeth, don't rinse your mouth, just spit. You want to keep as much of the fluoride in your mouth as possible and rinsing is a quick to flush out the fluoride; so try to break the habit of rinsing after you've brushed your teeth.
ᴿᴹ Floss daily
Do not just rely on brushing your teeth to maintain good dental care. Be sure to floss as well; there are different floss methods you can use. The most common is string floss. It is a thorough way to get rid of any food particles trapped between your teeth. Other types of floss include water flossing and air flossing; these are good options for those who wear braces or fixed retainers. If you find flossing painful, you can use teepee brushes to make sure you can clean between each teeth.
ᴿᴹ Avoid sugary food/ carbonated drinks
When you eat sugary foods or drink sugary drinks, plaque bacteria use that sugar to produce acids that attack the enamel of your tooth. Carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices are acidic and therefore, bad for your teeth.
ᴿᴹ Avoid tea, coffee
Tea and coffee have organic compounds called tannins. Increased exposure to tannins can cause teeth staining as well as enamel becoming weak. You can reduce this by being mindful of the amount of tea and coffee you consume throughout the day.
If you find that you are drinking more tea or coffee than you would like, you can slowly cut down. Perhaps find alternatives, herbal tea or warm water with lemon juice is a good alternative.
ᴿᴹ Use straws
Using straws is a good idea when consuming soft drinks, juices, alcohol, tea and coffee. Though you will not be negating the other health non-benefits, you are reducing the contact these will have on your teeth, which is better for your teeth health.
ᴿᴹ Allow an hour before brushing your teeth
If you do want to enjoy a nice glass of coke, give yourself at least an hour (ideally two hours!) before you brush your teeth. Within that time, your saliva will clean your mouth so by the time you brush your teeth, you won't be brushing your teeth with acidic remnants.
ᴿᴹ Visit your dentist twice a year
Book appointments to see your dentist every six months. You may find that you don't have any dental concerns but it is still important to keep the appointments. Think of it as preventive dentistry. Your dentist may spot any oral health problems while they are small and treatment is easy to do with minimal to no pain.
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