Dentists and orthodontists know a secret most people do not: Dental care is not as simple as it sounds.
Everyone wants strong, healthy, white teeth, but far too many people don’t know how to care for their teeth, or all the things that have an impact on dental care: Smoking, alcohol, coffee, diet, nutrition and stress all affect a person’s teeth.
Even the basics, like brushing and flossing, often are done improperly because people have never been taught the right way. Brushing is a bit more complicated than slapping toothpaste on a toothbrush and wiping it across your teeth.
A from the Oral B Company gives some simple tips on the proper method of brushing, including how to properly hold the brush, how long to brush and how often to do so.
And while we’re on the topic of brushing the right way, another urges you to care for your toothbrush. This says one of the best things you can do is replace your brush at regular intervals.
For good ortho care, you should use toothpaste that contains fluoride, and you should drink water that has been fluoridated – because fluoridation has proven to be a safe and cost-effective way to reduce tooth decay. But here’s another secret: Guess what doesn’t have fluoride in it? That’s right, bottled water. Another , notes that the majority of bottled waters do not contain the level of fluoride the American Dental Association recommends. It also says many dental health specialists and orthodontists suspect the increased popularity of bottled water is a culprit behind the rising rates of cavities.
So now that you’re brushing your teeth properly with a suitable toothbrush, and you’re making sure they are getting enough fluoride, the next step is whitening them, right? Not so fast. A ger at Cape Dental discusses a number of issues you should know and consider before buying one of the many teeth whitening products currently on supermarket and drug store shelves.