Most dentists agree that oral hygiene is one of the most important part of our daily routine. Keeping it on the highest level possible can prevent bad breath, gum disease, tooth decay and several other issues. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, scientists have recently discovered several links between poor oral hygiene and several severe problems such as heart stroke.
We all know that it’s important to brush our teeth twice per day, floss at least once per day and visit our dentist on regular basis.
But if you think that you got no room for improving your dental care habits, these 5 dental care tips that could surprise you.
Use an electric toothbrush.
The first electric toothbrush was invented in 1954. It was designed for people with limited motor skills, but the technology in the past few decades made it appropriate for everyone.
Today’s electric toothbrushes feature highly advanced technologies and are endorsed by most dentists. The best ones come with up 6 different brushing modes and several intensity levels to choose from. There’s usually a special whitening mode that is designed to remove organic stains from teeth, a tongue cleaning mode for removing bacteria from tongue, a sensitive mode for sensitive teeth, and several others.
Most electric toothbrushes also come with an in-built pressure sensor and timer which helps you reach the dentist’s recommended 2 minutes of brushing time, and helps you avoid brushing your teeth too aggressively which can lead to damages on enamel. An average electric toothbrush costs womewhere around $100 on average. While initial cost is obviously higher than buying a cheap manual toothbrush, replacement heads of electric toothbrush usually cost about the same as a manual toothbrush which brings the long term costs down.
The most advanced electric toothbrushes such also come with smart technology which allows you to connect your toothbrush with your smartphone through Bluetooth module. This technology maps your entire mouth and tells you how to improve your brushing technique by analyzing your brushing performance.
Flossing is more important than brushing.
While some surveys suggest that over 30% of U.S. adults don’t brush their teeth enough and they don’t use a proper brushing technique, the results are even more shocking when it comes to flossing.
This may come as a surprise to most people, but dentists agree that flossing is even more important than brushing. The plaque that’s nesting between the teeth can do much more harm than plaque on the tooth surface, especially on the long run.
It doesn’t matter how often you brush your teeth and what toothbrush you use. When it comes to removing plaque between teeth, nothing can replace a simple string floss.
Don’t brush your teeth at least 30 minutes after you had your last meal.
Many foods and drinks – especially those high in sugars and cargohydrates – contain acid. While tooth enamel is considered as the strongest material in the human body, acid from food temporarily weakens it which makes it more soft and prone to damages and wear. Brushing teeth right after you had a meal can damage it which is why according to Mayo Clinic, you should avoid brushing your teeth for at least for a half an hour after you’ve had your last meal.
Visit a dentist every 6 months.
When was the last time you visited a dentist? It doesn’t matter how good your dental hygiene is, the chances are that you will develop cavities, plaque or other dental issues that need to be addressed from time to time.
The dentist is the only person in this world that can thoroughly check your teeth and treat them if neccessarily. It’s recommended that you visit the dentist every 6 months for cleaning and regular checkups.
Drink lots of water.
There are plenty of benefits of replacing sugary drinks with water. If you consume a lot of sugary drinks (and foods), you are creating a perfect enviroment for food particles and salvia to start forming into plaque. Bacteria loves sugar. It allows it to spread, form plaque and cause tooth decay.
Add calcium and vitamin D to your diet.
Studies have proven that calcium and vitamin D play a crucial role in keeping your bones and teeth healthy. Calcium is the primary element that strenghtens bones and teeth while vitamin D helps bones to absorb it.
You can find calcium in milk, fish, grains, and dark leafy vegetables. The vitamin D can be found in egg yolks, fish and milk.