Helpful Hints to Keep your Dentist Trips Short

If you are busy mother who is caring for children, then it is essential to find ways to reduce visits to a dentist and keep the time spent there short. To remain organized, a parent with several children should find a dental facility that offers services for an entire family and request everyone’s examinations on the same day. When you have neglected your teeth on a daily basis, the dentist and dental hygienist will notice right away. Everyone in a family needs to get in the habit of performing dental care regularly to avoid needing extensive teeth cleanings or having cavities filled.

When Should You Brush Your Teeth?

The best time for everyone in a family to brush their teeth is early in the morning as soon as they wake-up or before eating breakfast. This is because salivary calcium levels are lowest in the morning, it’s not just because of morning breath! Most dentists tell their patients to brush their teeth again at night before going to bed. However, there are good reasons to brush more often if possible because removing food debris helps to prevent:

• Bad breath

• Gum disease

• Dental decay

When you can’t brush your teeth in the middle of the day, make sure to swish water around inside your mouth after eating to remove food particles that remain between the teeth.

What are the Best Ways to Whiten Your Teeth?

To keep teeth white and free of stains, make sure to avoid foods and beverages that cause discolorations on dental enamel. There are also bad habits such as smoking cigarettes that can lead to yellow or brown teeth. Avoid these items if you are able:

• Grape juice

• Soft drinks

• Red wine

• Berries

• Coffee

• Tea

• Foods with artificial dyes

• Spaghetti or tomato sauce

If your teeth do develop stains, then there are ways to lift the discolorations from teeth, including:

• Whitening mouthwashes – typically contain hydrogen peroxide

• Whitening strips – found at local stores

• Home recipes – mixture of lemon juice and baking soda

• Whitening toothpaste – often contains hydrogen peroxide

• Teeth whitening kits – molds to hold gel against teeth

• Professional dental office teeth whitening – customized molds

Whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes rely on abrasives and acids to strip discoloration and are not recommended as they can be detrimental to tooth structure to maintain color. Whitening strips can help maintain whiteness between visits, but are not recommended as a long term solution. This best way to whiten teeth is in office methods with a dentist or at home whitening trays (some are molded to fit your mouth) so that any negative side effects can help to be managed by your dentist.

How often should You Replace a Toothbrush?

It is important to choose the right type of toothbrush for your mouth, and a dentist can recommend the best style of bristles and handles. To encourage children to brush their teeth, let them help with selecting a toothbrush in a favorite color. Make sure the toothbrush is the appropriate size for them to use. Remember that a toothbrush requires replacing at least four times a year in order to remove food debris from between your teeth. When you or a child has a sore throat, influenza or other illness, it is a good idea to replace a toothbrush that is filled with germs.

Is Using an Oral Irrigator Better than Flossing?

Your dentist will recommend that everyone in a family floss their teeth at least once a day. Most people like to do this in the evening before going to sleep. If you are a mom with young children, then you will need to floss their teeth to remove stuck food particles. Another great option for dental care is an oral irrigator that uses highly pressured water to remove debris from the mouth. An oral irrigator is an effective tool for cleaning your teeth, and some dentists believe the devices are better than dental floss. The downside is that oral irrigators are expensive and require several minutes to fill with water in order to use. In addition, a child may not cooperate while the water is injected into their mouth. You might prefer to use dental floss on a daily basis but use an oral irrigator once a week.

What is the Best Way to Brush Teeth?

Adults and older children can use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste on a toothbrush with damp bristles. For toddlers and young children, buy toothpaste that does not contain fluoride to avoid poisoning. When brushing, do not begin in the same location of the mouth each time. By beginning in a different area of the mouth, you are applying a maximum amount of fluoride to a particular tooth. Hold the toothbrush at a slight angle to brush your teeth gently from top to bottom while making sure to brush all surfaces of each tooth. Make sure to brush both the upper and lower teeth to prevent cavities. After brushing your teeth, rinse your mouth with water before rinsing a toothbrush. Place a toothbrush upright in a holder so that it dries completely between uses.

Bio -

This guest post contribution was made by The Center for Dental Excellence. The “Pocatello Dentist” offers a wide array of services for the family including teeth whitening and more.