The Right Way to Care for Teeth

The Right Way to Care for Teeth

We all brush our teeth when we get ready in the morning, but some people have developed a habit of neglecting their teeth at night. It’s especially important to follow a good oral hygiene routine at night, because bacteria increases in our mouths overnight. In order to prevent cavities, we need to go to bed with clean teeth so that the bacteria don’t have any food particles to break down and feed off of. Basically, before going to sleep at night you should take care of your teeth by following a basic oral hygiene routine: brushing, flossing, and rinsing.

Brushing

A good brushing before bed will help protect your teeth from the buildup of plaque that leads to tooth decay.  Select a brush that has soft bristles and is dentist-approved.  Brush gently back and forth at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Dentists are now finding that certain people are genetically predisposed to be at a greater risk for developing dental and gum diseases. Patients who are not at an especially high risk are fine to wait until bedtime to brush, but patients who are at a higher risk should brush after dinner and before bed, as well.

Flossing

Flossing is the element of oral hygiene that is most neglected, and it’s especially important to floss before bed to remove any food particles that may have become lodged between the teeth during the day. To floss correctly, use an 18-inch long strand of floss and wind most of it around your middle fingers so that only about an inch or two is exposed between the fingers. Gently rub the floss between your teeth, and curve it against each tooth to make sure you get any debris that may be at the gum line in the front and back of the tooth. Repeat this for all of your teeth. Flossing is a great way to remove plaque from between the teeth and the gum line before it hardens to form tartar, which is only removable with a professional cleaning.

Rinsing

Rinsing with mouthwash is a great way to end your nighttime oral hygiene routine.  Rinsing not only freshens the breath, but it can also help remove any plaque or food that has been missed during brushing and flossing.

Guard and Protect

Custom Fit Sports Mouth guards

Did you know that approximately 5 million teeth will be knocked out this year due to sports related injuries? With school getting ready to start back, now is the time to think about getting a new mouth-guard made for your child. Although some sports are not considered contact sports, that does not mean you or your child may not get hit in the mouth. To ensure safety, you should consider a custom fitted sports mouth guard to protect your or your child’s smile. Custom mouth guards are a great way to protect your mouth in any sport, whether it be martial arts, kickboxing, baseball, volleyball, football, or soccer. Trauma to the mouth may happen at any level of participation, from children to college level athletes and also adults. Wearing a mouth guard during these events can help avoid teeth becoming knocked out and help eliminate oral surgery to repair any damage and also help avoid the possibility of replacing any teeth. According to the Academy of Sports Dentistry, “the lifetime dental rehabilitation costs can approach several thousand dollars per tooth, for the child or an athlete who loses a tooth (or teeth) in a sporting injury.” Although over-the-counter products can cost less, they are designed to fit several sizes of mouths. Sometimes this can mean that they are not effective and may not be a comfortable fit. Custom mouth guards help ensure a custom fit for you or your child’s teeth. They can also be made in school or team colors, making it more appealing to wear.

Visit with your hygienist or dentist at your next appointment to discuss the options of a custom mouth guard and how it can help you avoid dental traumas.

For a Bright White Smile ...

Are You Using a Whitening Toothpaste?

Whitening mania is especially obvious in the toothpaste aisle. Just about every major brand now comes in special whitening formulas. There’s no doubt that whitening toothpastes can clean stains off teeth and give them a little extra gleam. But the term “whitening” is misleading. Whitening toothpastes have “polishers” as referred to by manufacturers. They often times leave the patient with slight to extreme sensitivity. These “polishers” that are in the toothpastes are very abrasive. It is the abrasiveness that aids in removing surface stains but also cause discomfort to some patients after continual use. Unlike in-office dental whitening systems and strips that can bleach deep within a tooth, toothpastes can reach only the surface. Also, bleaches in toothpastes are not very effective. They get rinsed away before they have time to make any effect on the tooth surface.