Ever look at people and wonder how they got such great-looking teeth? You’d be surprised at how little time they needed. Their routines can be yours – even if you have a large family and one bathroom.
Here’s the answer to the question – “How Can I Keep My Smile Healthy?”
Brushing
This is the main way to keep your mouth as healthy as possible. You need to brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes at a time. That doesn’t mean just randomly moving the brush around in your mouth – that way a lot of areas will be missed. Instead, focus on each quadrant for 30 seconds at a time. This is where using an electric toothbrush can really help.
Ah. By what about the bristles? There are several different types – hard, medium and soft. You want to go with the soft ones since they will not wear away at the enamel of your teeth. Do not use too rough of a motion since that can also irritate your gums. Be firm and you should see good results within a couple of days if it’s been a while since you brushed regularly.
Flossing
This is the one that people tend to skip the most. No, just brushing your teeth, no matter what kind of toothpaste you use, not enough. You need to use dental floss, especially at night, since it will get rid of a lot of food that gets stuck between your teeth and gums and keep it from causing gum disease. It’s a really simple thing that requires only a minute of your time once a night.
The biggest mistake that people make when it comes to their flossing is that they are too rough. They act like the floss is a saw and they are using it to chop down a tree. No, the way to do it is to try to wrap the floss around the tooth as you bring it in between each tooth. Also, you can use whatever type of floss – waxed or unwaxed – that you like as long as it works for you.
Mouthwash
There are a lot of different types of mouthwashes on the market. It’s an industry in of itself. You just need to research about what works best for you. There are ones that work overnight since it has fluoride in it. Whatever the case, talk to your dentist about what is out there and see if there are any recommendations.
But your need to be careful – just like putting on body spray is not a substitute for taking a shower and scrubbing yourself off with soap, the mouthwash is not an intended replacement for brushing your teeth and flossing. It can take care of certain bacteria but there is no way you can rinse out everything, no matter how much time you spend swishing it in your mouth.
There are other important things you can do, like eat healthy foods that have vitamins and nutrients in them that can help give you strong teeth. Calcium is important as well as phosphates. Try to avoid having too much sugar, whether it’s in the food that you eat or in beverages that you drink, since those can attack your enamel and cause cavities. Avoid smoking and limit your alcohol intake. Water is best, since it can also wash away a lot of food particles.
If you think about the time investment compared to the rest of your day, it really does not take that much effort. Let’s say you wake up at 6 am and go to bed at 10 pm each and every day – keeping a consistent sleep schedule is important. That’s 17 hours – minus the 8 hour workday. So… 9 hours. Yet many people still can’t seem to find a way to make that attempt to factor in 10 minutes … and it often results in an uncomfortable dental experience.
When it comes to keeping people’s smiles whole and healthy, Dr. Robert M. Trager is a master. He can help people of all ages learn how to maintain strong teeth and gums that are as pink as can be. Have questions? He will gladly answer them during your next visit. Give him a call today at the JFK-LGA Dentist office to make an appointment: 718-656-4747.
Published By:
Dr. Robert M. Trager
JFK Airport
Building 14 West Wing,
Jamaica, NY 11430
Phone: 718-656-4747
Website: https://jfk-lga-dentist.com
