How To Keep Teeth Clean – Most of us learn as children that brushing our teeth helps prevent tooth decay. However, brushing your teeth is only one way to maintain healthy teeth and reduce the risk of many dental problems. Research has shown that a healthy mouth is important in supporting overall health and well-being. Taking a little time to care for your teeth can have significant lifelong benefits.
Tooth enamel does not regenerate once it wears down. The only solution is to remove and treat the caries and restore the affected teeth. Fillings, crowns, veneers, and bridges are all restorative strategies for restoring broken, worn, or missing teeth. Once a tooth wears down, it is never as strong as it once was. This is one of the reasons why it is important to prevent tooth decay.
How To Keep Teeth Clean
The first step is to prioritize your oral health. Brushing and flossing twice a day, using fluoride toothpaste, and visiting your dentist every 6 months will help prevent tooth decay. Limited snacking between meals will help your saliva neutralize acids and support your oral health.
Causes & Solutions To Tooth Discoloration
Brush twice a day, preferably in the morning after breakfast and before going to bed at night. Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Tilt your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle so you’re brushing your gums as well. Brush your teeth gently in circular motions and make sure to brush the inside, outside and chewing surfaces of your teeth. Spit out the toothpaste, don’t swallow it and avoid rinsing – this gives the fluoride more time to strengthen your teeth. Ideally, wait about 30 minutes after eating and drinking to brush your teeth.
Aim to eat a healthy, low-sugar diet. Sweets, soft drinks, cookies and cereals are common sources of sugar. Remember that some foods may contain sugar, even though you can’t taste the sugar.
Dental diseases don’t just lead to cavities (holes). Gingivitis (gum disease), halitosis (bad breath), tooth loss, diabetes, premature birth, oral cancer and a number of chronic diseases are linked to poor oral health. Dental care can be expensive, especially when fillings and restorations are required. Preventing tooth decay in the first place can avoid painful and often costly repairs.
The caries cycle begins when bacteria feed on food particles, especially sugar, that can be left on the teeth. As a result, acid is formed, dissolving the protective enamel coating of the teeth. If the decay is not caught early, it progresses, causing a small hole to become larger. If left untreated, tooth decay can spread to the inner parts of the tooth and the dental pulp. This can lead to the formation of a dental abscess.
Best Practices For Healthy Teeth And Mouth
Use floss or interdental brushes to clean the spaces your toothbrush can’t reach. Food left between the gums and teeth can cause inflammation and changes in the way the gum tissue attaches to the teeth and bone. There are a number of flossing options — traditional floss with waxed floss, string or floss — a grip type with floss stretched between the two ends — and flossers, which use air and/or water to help remove food particles .
When plaque builds up on the teeth and along the gum line, the bacteria cause gingivitis, which causes the gums to become red and inflamed. Bleeding gums when brushing, flossing and eating is a sign of gingivitis. With dental treatment and careful attention to oral hygiene, early gingivitis can be reversed. However, when the inflammation spreads to the supporting structures that surround and support the teeth, periodontitis, an advanced form of gingivitis, can develop. Bone and tooth loss is a common result. Smoking and unstable diabetes are risk factors for periodontitis.
People living with diabetes are at greater risk of developing periodontitis, especially when their blood glucose levels are not properly controlled over the long term. This risk is reduced when glucose levels are consistently within range. People living with stable and well-managed diabetes have the same risk of developing periodontitis as people without diabetes. Other oral conditions such as altered taste, slow healing as well as tooth decay are more common in diabetes.
Take your child to see the dentist for the first time when they get their first tooth or when they turn one – whichever comes first. For babies, use a soft damp cloth to wipe the gums. Only start brushing their teeth with water as soon as their first tooth erupts. Toddlers’ teeth can be brushed twice a day using a soft children’s toothbrush and a mild children’s fluoride toothpaste. Children over 6 should continue to brush twice a day with a mild children’s toothpaste and floss any teeth that touch each other. Children over 6 can use adult fluoride toothpaste and brush and floss twice a day. They only need to use a small amount of toothpaste – the size of a pea. They do not need to be rinsed. they only need to spit out the excess toothpaste.
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Caring for our teeth and gums has a direct impact on being able to keep our teeth as we age, although inevitably our teeth and gums will change as a result of wear and tear. Receding gums, erosion and tooth loss are common conditions with advancing age. Healthy, pink and firm gums reduce the risk of tooth and bone loss. Daily brushing, flossing and regular dental checkups help maintain oral health throughout your life.
The ideal manual toothbrush has a small head and soft bristles. Replace your toothbrush every three months, or as soon as it looks worn, to maintain its effectiveness and prevent gum wear.
Some people find that using an electric toothbrush is easier to use than a manual toothbrush and does a more thorough job of cleaning their teeth and gums. Built-in timers, synced phone apps, and alarms can all serve as prompts for proper usage.
However, the way you use your toothbrush is just as important as the type you have. Brushing thoroughly with fluoride toothpaste for 2 minutes at least twice a day reduces the risk of tooth decay.
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Most toothpastes contain fluoride, a natural mineral. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste and drinking fluoridated tap water helps protect teeth from tooth decay. In addition to the usual ingredients (mild abrasives, flavors and fluoride) some toothpastes are designed for specific needs.
Toothpastes with higher levels of fluoride and desensitizing and whitening agents can be very effective if needed. Home whitening kits do not contain the same concentration of whitening agents that dentists use. Dentists can recommend treatment for people who wish to whiten stained or discolored teeth.
Some people like to use mouthwash because they believe it has a refreshing effect on their mouth and breath. However, most people do not need mouthwash, especially if they have good oral health. Talk to your dentist about the potential risks of using mouthwash to “mask” bad breath and the effect of alcohol-based mouthwashes on healthy mouth bacteria.
See your dentist every 6 months or as often as recommended. Regular check-ups help detect tooth decay and other problems early. This can avoid painful and expensive restorations. See your dentist right away if you have a toothache, facial swelling, food and drink sensitivity, or trauma to your teeth.
Why Is Teeth Cleaning Important For Your Dental Health? By Ezequiel Vince
Your dentist will use professional equipment to remove tartar and plaque buildup around and between your teeth. No matter how careful brushing is, plaque can only be removed by a dentist. Numbing Gel can be used to reduce sensitivity. Your teeth will be polished and fluoride treatment applied. If your dentist detects any concerns, they may take an x-ray of your teeth and discuss a treatment plan.
Brushing Your Teeth – Australian Dental Association Brushing your teeth morning and night every day isn’t just about keeping your mouth fresh and clean. This page covers everything you need to know about brushing, how to do it right and other oral health tips. Read more at Teeth.org.au Brushing children’s teeth: a picture guide | Parenting Network Brushing teeth is vital to your child’s dental health. Our illustrated guide walks you through the steps to keep children’s teeth clean and healthy. Read more at raisingchildren.net.au Cleaning Between Teeth | Teeth.org.au | How to Floss Well Interdental cleaning, or cleaning between the teeth, is an essential part of your daily oral health routine. Learn how to do it well. Read more at Teeth.org.au Bleeding gums – MyDr.com.au Bleeding gums is something many people notice when brushing or flossing, however, healthy gums rarely bleed. Read more on the myDr website Dental and oral care – Best health channel Tooth decay can be prevented with a good diet, regular tooth brushing and dental check-ups. Read more on the Better Health Channel website Gum Disease – Better Health Channel Regular tooth brushing helps prevent gum disease and early treatment can help save affected teeth. Read more on the Better Health Channel website Dental care for children Dental care tips for children covering brushing, flossing, tooth development, tooth decay and other dental problems and when to see a dentist. Read more on the Pregnancy, Birth & Baby Dental Care website
