Many of us are not aware of the importance of caring for our teeth and gums. Do you know that if you care for your teeth and gums the right way, you can keep it healthy even until you’re old? With apt care, you are actually lowering your risk of suffering from gum disease and tooth decay. Unfortunately, not many of us know the basic steps when it comes to caring for our teeth and gums.
To care for your teeth and gums, you need to follow five very simple steps on a daily basis. Keep in mind that this has to be done every day.
First Step: Brush
Brushing has a minimum requirement. Ideally, you should brush your teeth at least two times in a day. If possible, brushing after every meal is best. However, it is important to know that you need to wait for at least half an hour after you have consumed your meal before you can start brushing your teeth. The reason behind this is to preserve your teeth‘s enamel. When you eat, your enamel will temporarily soften due to the acid. Waiting for thirty minutes will give it enough time to re-harden so when you brush your teeth, your enamel will not erode.
Brushing also helps remove plaque. Plaque is a thin film made of bacteria that sticks to your teeth. When it comes in contact with food, it creates acids that will eventually become cavities.
Second Step: Floss
Dentists would recommend you floss your teeth at least once in a day. You might think brushing is enough but it’s not. Why is flossing necessary? Flossing keeps your teeth and gums healthy by removing plaque and food substances that are stuck between your teeth. When plaque is not removed right away, overtime it will harden and turn into tartar. You cannot remove tartar by brushing and flossing. The only person who can remove it is a dentist. There is a proper way to floss your teeth.
Is there a proper way of flossing? Yes, there is. Here’s how you should do it:
- Prepare a strip of floss from its container, around 18-inches.
- Twist the floss around your middle fingers on both hands and leave an inch of the floss open because that’s what you’ll use to floss in between your teeth. Floss your upper teeth first and then followed by the bottom.
- Position your floss in your mouth. Use both your index fingers to move the floss. Make sure you’re not pushing it too hard so you won’t hurt your gums.
- Make an upward and downward motion against your tooth as well as the gum line. Your floss should create a C-shape around your tooth.
- Don’t forget to include the back of your teeth.
- Use a new section of your floss if necessary.
Third Step: Rinse
Rinsing with a mouthwash at least once in a day will help kill bacteria that are causing gum disease and plaque formation. When rinsing, it doesn’t matter if you do it before you brush your teeth or after. It will still serve its purpose, regardless. Gargle the mouthwash for about thirty seconds to a minute.
Fourth Step: Choose the food you consume
To keep your teeth and gums healthy, you must be mindful of the food you eat. As much as possible, try to avoid foods that contain starches and sugars because these are the type of foods that produce a lot of acids in your mouth and the longer it stays in your mouth, the more likely you’ll teeth will get destroyed. This is the reason why sucking on hard candies for a long time will lead to dental cavities.
Fifth Step: Schedule an appointment with your dentist
It is recommended that you schedule an appointment with your dentist at least twice in a year to keep your teeth and gums in check. Your dentist will give you the right pieces of advice on how to properly care for your teeth. They can even offer other services aside from teeth cleaning such as teeth whitening. A lot of people suffer from stained teeth. Your dentist will know what to apply in order to restore the whiteness of your teeth. If, however, you experience swollen gums or pain in your teeth, don’t hesitate to visit your dentist even if the recommended visits are only twice a year. You would most definitely find a dentist in your vicinity! For example, if you are from Morehead City, you could search for a family dentist morehead city nc, to schedule an appointment for not only you, but others in your family as well.
Caring for your teeth goes beyond aesthetics. It’s part of your overall health. Care for your teeth and gums now and always remind yourself of these five basic steps.
