We’re all used to lectures from our dentists. We know that flossing every single day is an absolute must. We know that if we don’t maintain regular six month cleanings, bad things will happen. Dentists like Dr. Kami Hoss and others give advice like this every day of the week.
But what you might not know is how much your dentist wants to help educate their patients in order to keep them healthy and happy. Here are some of the most common pitfalls according to dentists and how to avoid them. This is for the patients who want to listen, learn and do things right!
1) Flossing Really is Critical
It’s right up there with brushing. You do not want to go a single night without flossing your teeth under any circumstances. Many people think it is an exercise in futility, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Not only does it remove food particles and plaque from between your teeth, which no toothbrush will ever be able to do, but it also provides a healthy environment for the gums.
If not cared for in its early stages, gum disease can develop into something much more dangerous and expensive over time. It’s vital that you floss your teeth at least once each night before going to sleep.
2) You Need to Use Mouthwash
This one is controversial. It’s not necessary for everyone, but if your body chemistry allows it to work, you may want to consider using mouthwash every day after brushing and flossing.
It kills germs in the mouth leftover from food particles that you couldn’t remove during brushing or flossing.
If you can use it, it’s good to do so. It will leave your mouth feeling much fresher and cleaner than if you didn’t.
3) Be Careful With Acidic Foods and Drinks
Acidic foods like citrus fruits are great; they taste wonderful and provide a lot of necessary vitamins in our diets. But they are acidic. When you eat or drink something highly acidic, it can start to dissolve the outer layer of your teeth. This is called erosion.
Erosion only happens over time; one orange juice won’t do too much damage at once but think about how many oranges that might be over the course of a week. Most dentists recommend that you avoid highly acidic foods if at all possible. This might not be an option for everyone, but you should monitor how much of these types of food you are eating and see if it’s having a negative effect on your teeth.
4) Diet Is Critical
Diet can have a huge impact on your dental health, but you can’t use any old diet to get this effect. Most people need to watch their sugar intake, and this includes candy and other assorted sweets. But it also means processed foods like soft drinks and anything that is high in carbohydrates.
Carbs convert into sugar when they are digested by the body, so if you eat a loaf of bread, that’s the same as eating a spoonful of sugar.
Sugar is highly destructive to teeth. It causes decay and cavities, it causes gum disease, and over time it can even cause bone loss around your teeth. You need to watch what you eat carefully if you don’t want your teeth to suffer for it!
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