Little-Known Tips to Help You Brush Up on Your Dental Health
Cavities are a common dental issue that many people deal with. At least one in five Americans has one or more untreated cavities. Cavities can be incredibly frustrating to get if you’re doing your best to take care of your teeth. After all, if you’re brushing regularly then why are cavities still appearing?
It turns out that brushing twice a day and flossing regularly aren’t the only methods of dental care you can use to keep up with your dental health. Here are some little-known tips you can use to take your dental care up a notch and fight back against pesky cavities.
Only brush your teeth twice a day
Sometimes people can overbrush their teeth to keep cavities at bay. But the truth is that brushing your teeth too much can put you at greater risk of cavities. When you brush twice a day, you’re keeping plaque from building up on your teeth and turning into tartar.
Tartar is what allows bacteria to eat their way through your teeth and cause cavities. However, when you overbrush, you wear down our teeth’s protective layer, the enamel. That means when bacteria do have the chance to break down your enamel, they don’t have to work very hard to do it.
Use a soft-bristled brush
Speaking of wearing away your enamel, hard-bristled and medium-bristled brushes can do more harm to your teeth than good. Hard-bristled toothbrushes can be abrasive and damaging to your enamel.
You don’t need to brush vigorously to improve your dental care, either. It’s recommended to brush your teeth and gums with a gentle amount of pressure. Tilt your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your gum line and use a short, circular motion.
Massage your gums
If you use floss picks to floss your teeth, consider using the other end of the pick to periodically massage your gums after you floss. Massaging your gums helps to increase the blood flow in your gum tissue. Increased blood flow means better circulation, which makes it easier for your gum tissue to get access to nutrient-rich blood. Gum massages improve your gum health and help to fight back against gum disease.
Begin your routine by brushing in the back
Your back teeth do a lot of work when it comes to chewing. Unfortunately, because your back teeth are also harder to reach when brushing, they’re also more likely to become the victim of cavities. Start your brushing routine by brushing your back teeth first instead of your front teeth. This ensures that your back teeth are getting the dental care they need and that you never forget them.
Clean your tongue
Your teeth aren’t the only places where bacteria like to relax. Your tongue is also a major harbor of bacteria and plaque. Make sure to keep the surface of your tongue daily while you’re brushing your teeth. You can either use your toothbrush to clean your tongue or a tongue cleaner. This can help to improve your dental care while also preventing bad breath.
Chew sugar-free gum
Sugar-free gum is great for dental care for several reasons. First, sugar-free gum contains xylitol. Xylitol is a chemical substance extracted from birch wood that’s used as a sugar substitute. In the presence of xylitol, bacteria lose the ability to adhere to your teeth. Prolonged chewing of sugar-free gum with xylitol can also reduce the number of decay-causing bacteria in your mouth.
Additionally, chewing on gum helps to stimulate salivary flow. Salivary flow bathes your teeth with phosphate and calcium ions, which replenishes your tooth enamel.
See a dentist even when you don’t have a cavity
Just because your dental insurance is separate from your health insurance doesn’t mean your dental care isn’t essential to your health. Regular dental visits are important for keeping tooth decay and gum disease at bay.
Regular cleanings from a family dentist can help to remove stubborn tartar from your teeth, which can’t be removed with a regular toothbrush. The less tartar on your teeth, the less likely you are to experience a cavity.
Looking for family dentists in Gainesville VA? Gainesville Dental Associates offers dental services in both Gainesville and Bristow so you can get the dental work you need. To learn more about our dental care services including veneers, sealants, Invisalign, root canals, and more, contact Gainesville Dental Associates to make an appointment with us today.