Preventing Tooth Decay by Developing Good Habits By Brent McNutt At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

There are many ways to prevent tooth decay; it is just a matter of adequate dental hygiene and developing good dental habits as any dentist in their landau scrubs can tell you. You can keep your teeth clean and healthy longer by starting good habits at a very young age. For parents, it is important to teach your kids dental hygiene so that they won’t have too much problems with their teeth when they grow a little older. Children can already have permanent tooth decay as young as six years old. By the age of 18 or 20, many people will have two or more decayed teeth. Below are some measures to prevent tooth decay.

Brushing your teeth

It cannot be overstated how important brushing your teeth is in preventing tooth decay. There is a proper way of brushing the teeth and doing it wrong is almost as bad as not brushing. It is important to make it a habit to brush your teeth at least twice daily, or ideally, after eating. Opt for a toothbrush with round and soft bristles instead of those medium or hard bristles that can hurt your gums and do not thoroughly clean the surface of your teeth. Use toothpaste that contains fluoride to help repair the enamel of your teeth and help prevent tooth decay. When brushing, mentally divide your teeth into four parts: upper left, upper right, lower left, lower right. A good rule of thumb is to brush 20 seconds for each part using up and down strokes, as rapidly as possible. For convenience, you can buy an electric toothbrush so that the motions or vibrations are faster and thus more effective in cleaning the hard-to-reach areas. The principle is the same as if you are removing stains in your bathroom or your kitchen. The faster your strokes, the more the stains will come off. Don’t forget to brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath. Bacteria can easily grow on toothbrushes and bristles wear down and lose their cleaning power so it is best to buy a new toothbrush every three or four months.

Rituals after brushing

Make it a point to use dental floss after brushing your teeth. This will remove the build-up of plaque in between your teeth. These are almost impossible to remove with simply brushing your teeth or gargling mouthwash so flossing is a must. Rise with a fluoride mouthwash after brushing and flossing and you will get squeaky clean teeth and ultra fresh breath. To heal inflamed gums, you can try an herbal rinse such as tea tree oil or Echinacea.

Eating habits

Some foods are good for your teeth such as those that are high in calcium. To get strong teeth, eat calcium-rich foods such as milk, cheese, broccoli, sardines, and fortified orange juice. Avoid or eliminate sugary foods or sugar in general. Snack on healthy fruits and raw vegetables, or have an unsweetened yogurt topped with berries. Sugar is the number one enemy of teeth and causes tooth decay. If you have a sweet tooth, snack on sugar-free candies and breath mints instead.

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