You should always be doing everything you can in order to take proper care of your teeth. They are one of the first things that people notice about you. Sure, you go to the dentist, but what are you doing at home for maintenance? Keep reading to find out some great advice.

Daily flossing is essential to healthy teeth. Take a generous amount of dental floss and insert it gently between your teeth. Move the floss up from the gum on the side of each tooth. This will remove plaque that you can’t reach with your toothbrush and help keep your teeth their cleanest.

Brush your teeth twice a day to prevent tooth decay. When you brush, make sure to massage the gums with your toothbrush and to keep brushing for at least two minutes. Dentists recommend two minutes as a minimum amount of time to brush if you want health teeth and gums.

You should not purchase a toothpaste advertised as a product that can whiten your teeth without checking the label first. Look for fluoride. This ingredient is absolutely necessary for healthy teeth, and some whitening toothpaste do not even contain fluoride. Try a toothpaste for a few weeks and switch to a different brand if you are not happy with the results.

Consider purchasing electric toothbrushes for the whole family. They cut down the effort you have to produce to get the same results with a manual brush. Electric toothbrushes are not only affordable, but are recommended by most professional dentists. They have solid bristles which cup around your tooth and quickly help brush away plaque.

 

Consider using a Cavity with soft bristles. Your gums are very sensitive. Medium and hard bristles can damage them more than you know. Try switching to a toothbrush with soft bristles to protect them. You should especially consider switching if you already have any trouble with gum pain or bleeding.

 

To maintain optimum oral health, you need to make sure you go to the dentist two times a year. This dental checkup will include a cleaning and assessment by the dentist. They will do any minor work and will help your mouth maintain optimum health. They will be able to treat any issues before they become major problems.

 

Are your gums inflamed and red? If so, you may have gingivitis. People who have inadequate oral hygiene habits often suffer from the gum disease known as gingivitis. Another way to see if you have this is if your gums bleed when brushing. If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, make sure to schedule a dentist appointment immediately, before the problem gets any worse.

 

Cavity

 

Schedule a visit to your dentist if you have sensitive teeth. Pain in your teeth when eating hot foods or drinking cold drinks may be indicative of serious dental issues. You may have a cavity, nerve inflammation, or nerve irritation. These are dental problems you do not want to ignore.

 

Are your teeth very sensitive to extreme temperatures? It’s important to let your dentist know that you’re having sensitivity issues, and it’s a good idea to use a toothpaste made for this. That sensitivity could mean you have a cavity or nerve inflammation. Take care of these dental problems before they get worse.

 

Are you brushing correctly? Brush in the morning and then before going to sleep. Saliva production slows as you sleep, and this helps to fend off cavity-causing bacteria. Time your brushing to two minutes and use a 45 degree angle to brush.

 

Make sure you’re not suffering from dry mouth. Saliva is a natural defense against cavity causing bacteria as well as periodontal disease. Some people suffer from dry mouth due to certain medication side effects and others due to more serious problems. There are a number of products available to help you keep saliva production going or help you replace the saliva altogether.

 

Eating when you’re not hungry not only adds weight, but can also increase your risk of cavities. If you snack throughout the day, you expose your teeth to more cavity-causing bacteria, sugars and acid. Thus, you should eat only when you’re hungry in order to protect your dental health.

 

If you have a small cavity, it is always best to go ahead and fill it. Small cavities are easy to fill, while large cavities take longer, cost more and can require extensive work like crowns or root canals. It is always better to catch a cavity when it is small and the work is minimal.

 

You need to visit the dentist twice a year for a check-up and cleaning to keep your mouth in tip-top shape. The cost is worth it when you consider how much you will be billed when you have to have a cavity filled, root canal or extraction! Don’t forget the cost of dentures!

 

Go see your dentist as often as he recommends. Visiting a dentist regularly can keep little issues from becoming serious ones. For instance, a cavity can be treated early and then you can possibly avoid a major filling.

 

You should now be able to confidently say that you’re going to be able to take better care of your teeth in between dental visits. Your dentist will be happy to see you next time with good news that he or she can tell you’ve changed your practices when it comes to your teeth. Be happy with the positive changes you’re about to make.