Preventing Tooth Decay

Your teeth are very important to your overall good looks, as well as your ability to chew food in order to live. Keeping your teeth in good condition is vital, and no one wants cavities, tooth decay or loss of enamel. Have you been taking proper care of your teeth lately? Here are some tips to prevent tooth decay.

First, brush your teeth. Ideally, brush them when you wake up each morning, and before you go to sleep at night. Brush using a 45-degree angle to get up under the gumline to clean out the bacteria in there. When possible, brush with a toothpaste containing fluoride. After brushing, rinse with an antiseptic rinse like Listerine.

Next, floss daily to remove the stubborn chunks of food caught up in between your teeth. You don’t want old, decaying food stuck in between teeth, leading to cavities.

Third, eat healthy. All that sugar you take in? Not good. Sugar often turns into plaque. Sodas, especially dark colas, rot your teeth, unless you rinse with water or brush right after drinking them. The more junk food you consume, the less attractive and healthy your teeth will be; try adding some veggies like carrot sticks or green pepper slices to your daily diet.

Though you may not like visiting a dentist, it’s smart to go to one twice a year for cleanings and check-ups. The longer you avoid the dentist, the more teeth problems you’ll have to contend with down the line. It’s also a good idea to get dental X-rays, generally once every two or three years, so your dentist has a track record of what’s going on with your teeth over time.

Finally, if you’re out and about and can’t easily brush your teeth, consider chewing some sugarless gum. It increases the flow of saliva in your mouth, which can help prevent cavities. Wrigley’s Orbit, Eclipse, and Extra chewing gums work well.