As a dentist, part of my job is to motivate and encourage patients towards good dental habits. However, for most patients, being told to brush and floss is not enough. Offering up alternative solutions, suggesting a change in one’s dental routine at home, or simply reviewing the basic techniques with a mirror can make a difference in improving one’s oral health.
Here are some things to consider to keep your teeth in tip-top shape:
1. The basics of brushing: Brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush for at least two to three minutes twice a day. Really spend the time to get in there and reach all the spots. Don’t forget to focus on brushing close to the gumline where most food and bacterial dental plaque settle. Also, begin brushing the hardest-to-reach areas first (usually the very back and surfaces next to the tongue)—our attention is greatest at the beginning of a task and therefore this ensures that nothing gets missed.
2. Flossing requires time and patience. Most people report that they do not floss because they do not have the time. Make the time! If you can’t floss once a day (which is ideal), floss when you can and do it correctly. (Floss correctly by sliding it on the side surfaces of teeth and not just sliding it in between teeth.) Flossing really makes a difference in your overall dental health. You can even floss while watching television in your favorite chair. By the way, if you notice your gums bleeding from flossing, don’t stop. This bleeding is an indication of inflammation and could be present because you haven’t been flossing. The bleeding should subside and get better in about a week or so. Lastly, although these may not take the place of flossing, other tools can be useful to clean in between teeth also. These include specially-shaped toothpicks (wooden or plastic) and small interdental brushes. Also consider an oral irrigation device that is designed to direct water between teeth. You’d be amazed at what it cleans out from between your teeth and lands in the sink bowl. Check out your local drugstore’s oral care section to see what’s available.
3. Be mindful of how certain food textures stick to teeth. Starchy foods tend to be chewy and get caught between the teeth and stick to the smooth surfaces more. Food that sits around your teeth and gums all day encourages more plaque buildup and a chance for cavities or gum disease to develop. Think about how a bowl of pasta would affect your teeth as opposed to a crunchy, crisp apple. Consider snacking on foods that “cleanse” our teeth. Coincidentally, these “cleansing” foods are also nutritionally good for you (e.g. apples, carrots, celery).
4. Many of the things we do everyday can erode tooth enamel. Erosion of our enamel can cause teeth sensitivity and/or discoloration. We expose our teeth to acid through certain foods we eat and beverages we drink. Beverages containing acid include citric juices, carbonated drinks, sports drinks, and even fizzy mineral water. Lessen the erosion of enamel by rinsing with water after your teeth have been exposed to acidic foods or beverages. Try sipping acidic drinks through a straw to minimize contact with the teeth. Also, wait at least one hour before brushing with a soft toothbrush after acid exposure to avoid further breakdown and wear of your enamel.
Good oral health is mostly achieved by what you do at home on a daily basis. Take the steps to brush and floss correctly and do visit your dentist on a regular basis. My husband and I have a popular mantra at home, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” For dental health, this means, you can’t have healthy teeth without doing the work to get there.
Donna S. Bautista, DDS
General & Cosmetic Dentistry
Dental Health & Wellness for the Family
949.226.7222
26137 La Paz Road, Suite 270
Mission Viejo
www.donnabautistadds.com
