Even if you take tremendous care of your teeth and overall oral health, bacterial plaque is always present and constantly trying to damage your teeth and cause oral diseases. We all make mistakes, and when it comes to healthy teeth only a few of us know how to avoid them and the consequences thereafter. Dentists have many advices when it comes to healthy mouths. Here are a few of those things that they wish for you to know:
- Right now, there is bacterial plaque coating the surfaces of your teeth. Because plaque is not thick and you can’t feel it, you may think your mouth is relatively clean when in reality is all over your teeth every day. The only way to remove plaque is by flossing and brushing, otherwise is going to stay in your mouth literally forever.
- Dry mouth makes bacteria grow even faster. Saliva is so important to the overall health of the mouth that it cleans the teeth and fights cavities. The antibacterial properties of the saliva help repair and restore teeth. If you have dry mouth, drink lots of water and consider a saliva-boosting mouth rinse.
- One-third of our teeth are pressed against other teeth, there’s no other no way to reach them and clean them without flossing or using another interdental cleaner – this is why flossing is so important!
- Oral health doesn’t just happen, you must make it a habit of brushing your teeth twice a day. If you think brushing your teeth is not necessary at night, think twice, the sticky bacteria that causes tooth decay, plaque, accumulates all over your teeth and even under the gums. Hence, the reason why is hard to forget to brush in the morning.
- Brushing your teeth hard doesn’t mean you’ll get out all the bacteria or food residue, it may actually do much more damage by affecting your gums causing them to recede. However, a soft brush, in gentle circles does the job and prevents you from damaging your gums.
- Bad dental hygiene will have consequences in the long run. Eventually, all the bad habits will turn into gingivitis or gum disease. It this disease is left untreated the infections can cause the loss of tissues and bones that support the teeth.
- Tooth decay can result from many things, one is a chip in your teeth. There’s an opportunity for decay when bacteria get inside a tooth chip. Do not ignore this even if the chip is tiny, or it will turn much worse.
Learn more on how to keep your teeth healthy at Hagerman Dental Care in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. We welcome your inquiry, if you have any questions please call our office at (651) 646-2392. You can also request an appointment online.