The root cause may be the bodys response to chronic inflammation.
START WITH THE BASICS
1.
(Some insurance plans allow for up to three teeth cleanings a year.)
Find a dentist who makes you feel comfortable so you dont dread going in for regular checkups.
Its one of the most important things you’re able to do for your oral health.
Address anxiety
The anxiety many experience at the dentist can keep them from seeking care.
But … we also prescribe medications based on patients needs to help calm their nerves before procedures.
Additionally, some offices can do treatment under sedation for certain circumstances.
Dental professionals say the best times to brush are before breakfast and before bed.
This gives the enamel in your teeth time to remineralize and build back up again.
you might also rinse your mouth with water or chew sugar-free gum until you might brush your teeth later.
Go electric
Research suggests electric-powered toothbrushes are more effective at removing plaque than manual ones.
Krikunenko recommends using plug-in rechargeable electric toothbrushes because theyre more powerful than battery-operated toothbrushes.
This slight tilt is better for removing plaque and bacteria along the gum line.
Light pressure is sufficient.
Let the brush do the work.
This will put less pressure against your gums.
Be gentle
Always opt for soft-bristle or extra-soft-bristle brushes.
Torres agrees, and she says patients should always use an extra-soft or soft-bristle toothbrush.
The BLU Smart Toothbrush and App ($99.95) features a cavity tracker for each tooth.
Flossing well is associated with lower levels of gum disease.
Ideally, you should floss when you brush your teeth, but at the very least floss before bed.
The more you floss, the less you may bleed, and the better your oral health will be.
Floss effectively
Floss picks or string?
While using floss picks is better than not flossing at all, theyre not as effective as string.
In addition to adding more plastic to the environment, they can spread bacteria from one location to another.
Opt for thicker, more rigid floss rather than slick, thin floss.
Unwaxed or waxed, flavored or not thats up to you.
Thats the key, Wang says.
Try eating hard, crunchy foods such as carrots, nuts and seeds to help slough off plaque.
Try a water flosser
Theres some debate among dentists about whether water flossers work as well as traditional flossing.
Kapadia says both water flossers and regular floss help, so dentists should be flexible.
Some patients will never floss, including my own dad, who is 83 years old, he says.
Its better than nothing!
The frequent sipping of acidic/sugary drinks is one of the most common ways of getting cavities, Kapadia says.
Always choose an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste so you know its safe and effective.
But dental professionals warn against this trend.
Toothpaste is in a tube because it loses effectiveness when exposed to ultraviolet light.
Light exposure can also break down the preservatives in toothpaste and possibly lead to bacterial and fungal growth.
