Everyone wants healthy and strong teeth, but it takes effort and time to achieve perfect oral health. According to the World Health Organization, close to 2.3 billion people globally suffered from dental cavities of permanent teeth in 2017. If you are having dental issues or looking for more ways to maintain your healthy smile, here are five crucial tips.
1: Try a Sonic Toothbrush
Unlike standard toothbrushes, sonic brushes are electric-powered. They clean the teeth and gums by vibrating at a high speed to deliver thousands of brush strokes per minute. While an ordinary toothbrush can be effective at maintaining oral hygiene, poor brushing techniques make it difficult to focus on cleaning the gum line. Even worse, they may cause damage to the gums.
On the other hand, a sonic toothbrush makes it easy to target the gum line effectively. The rapid vibration drives oxygen below the gum line, helping kill bacteria in the area. Additionally, a sonic toothbrush is gentle and more efficient at removing plaque and mild tooth discoloration.
2: Use Baking Soda Before Going to Bed
Baking soda is an economical and highly effective product you should incorporate into your dental care routine. With a pH of 10, baking soda is highly alkaline and helps lower the mouth's acidity. Acidic conditions encourage the growth of pathogenic bacteria, which can cause or worsen dental diseases such as gingivitis and tooth decay.
When there's little activity in the mouth, especially at night, bacteria digest food particles on the teeth and under the gums. This results in acid production that harms the enamel and may eventually lead to cavities and other dental issues. To neutralize this acid buildup, brush your teeth with baking soda while forcing it in between the teeth and right into gum pockets.
3: Use Toothpaste Containing Calcium
Calcium strengthens the jawbone and provides structural support to the enamel. Some common ways of enriching your teeth with calcium include eating calcium-rich foods, such as yogurt and milk, and using calcium-based toothpaste.
After brushing your teeth and gums with baking soda the previous night, your mouth pH will have returned to a slightly acidic pH the following morning. This is the perfect time to use a toothpaste with calcium to support remineralization, since such toothpaste will work best when the mouth is slightly acidic.
4: Use an Interproximal Brush
Interproximal brushes serve the same purpose as dental floss. They are used to clean the spaces between teeth where a regular toothbrush doesn't reach. Over the years, interproximal brushes have proved to be more effective at cleaning teeth with hard-to-reach spaces, especially among older adults.
5: Minimize the Use of Mouthwash
Mouthwashes contain an antiseptic that helps kill harmful bacteria in the mouth. While this oral cleaning option is prevalent, it's not always the safest or most effective. According to an article by the British Dental Journal published in Nature, mouthwashes have low pH, which may lead to erosion of the enamel. Similarly, using mouthwash right after brushing reduces the fluoride concentration around your teeth and negates the benefits of using toothpaste.
Optimal Dental Health Services in Refugio
With these five tips in mind, you'll be better informed about what to use and what to avoid in your daily oral care routine. Not all the dental care products being advertised are a "must-have," and not everything expensive is worth it. If you have any questions or concerns about your dental health, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or book an appointment at the practice of Dr. J. Tim Rainey, DDS. You can also visit our website for more interesting articles on minimally invasive dentistry.