Article by-Halvorsen Thybo

Many parents receive referrals to a pediatric orthodontist from their dentist, and those referrals lead to recommendations for thousands of dollars of treatment. Often, these children are still in the early years of elementary school. However, waiting for their mouths to grow often corrects many of the problems that dentists notice at that age.

Believe it or not, saliva is actually your teeth's best friend! Natural saliva contains minerals, enamel-strengthening antibacterial properties and the power to neutralize acid. If you are a woman over the age of 50, menopause may be causing dry mouth, which, then leads to bad breath. Specially formulated dry mouth products can help to eliminate embarrassing odors caused by a lack of saliva.

Get a tongue scraper and use it every morning. This will clean your tongue and help remove bacteria. Your tongue will feel better and your mouth will not smell so bad. A tongue scraper is more effective than brushing your tongue with your tooth brush, and takes less time too.

If you run out of toothpaste, baking soda and water can be an effective substitute. Simply mix in some water with a small amount of baking soda and use it just as you would toothpaste. An added benefit to using baking soda is that, along with neutralizing mouth odors, its abrasive nature can help with stain removal.

Do not let unknown discomfort go unattended. There are various reasons you may feel discomfort in your teeth or jaw. You could be experiencing the cutting of a wisdom tooth or you may have developed an infection. Make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible to avoid further complications. It is better to know it is minor, than to ignore it until it is major.

If you are only going to brush twice a day, do it when you are first getting up and when you finally go to bed. Early morning brushing gets rid of morning breath and deals with anything that settled in during your sleep. Brushing at bedtime helps your plaque-fighting saliva out, since it is going to dry up overnight.

Your bad breath could be the symptom of gum disease. If brushing your tongue and using mouth wash is not enough to make your bad breath go away, you need to go to your dentist and have your gums inspected. The bacteria that develop in your gum could be responsible for your bad breath.





We have saliva in our mouths to keep ourselves healthy, specifically stopping both tooth decay and even gum disease. Not having enough saliva can lead to huge problems. Dry mouth is a symptom of some diseases or a side effect which comes with prescription medications. Thankfully, there are many different products which can help.

If you know you won't be able to brush your teeth after a meal, try and eat foods that can act as temporary substitutes. Things like apples and celery are good for you and will act as gentle abrasion tools as you chew, cleaning the surfaces and even reaching between teeth to remove particles of food.

To avoid serious and possible permanent damage to your teeth, never use them for any activity other than chewing the food that you eat. You run the risk of chipping or cracking your teeth whenever you use your teeth to open a package, pull something that is stuck or crack open nutshells.

Beware of temperature changes. Large and sudden changes in temperature can cause sensitivity and weaken your enamel. There isn't much that you can do about the weather outside your door. You can, however, monitor what you are eating. Avoid eating and drinking cold and hot beverages and foods together.

Make sure that you clean your tongue. Many people neglect this important step, but if you don't keep your tongue clean, it will just collect bacteria. This bacteria tends to be the main culprit of bad breath. Try using a tongue scraper every day to remove plaque and to freshen breath. The scraper is more effective at getting the tongue clean than a toothbrush.

You should replace your toothbrush every three months. As you use a toothbrush, the bristles wear out. When the bristles become worn, your toothbrush can harm your gums. This can cause your gums to begin bleeding. For best results, choose a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles.

Flossing should be an important part of your daily dental plan. Floss at least once daily. For best results, floss before bedtime. Flossing helps remove food particles before brushing your teeth. Never use a sawing motion when flossing. Instead gently move the floss up and down between each tooth.

If you have an ongoing tooth issue, choose a specialty dentist. If a prospective dentist is not experienced in dealing with your issue, he will probably direct you to another dentist who is. If you don't want to be referred, find one that specializes in the issue you need resolved.

Make sure you change your toothbrush every two months or so. If you use an electric toothbrush, change the head as often. The bristles become frayed and less effective. They can also be tougher to clean properly, making them a haven for bacteria, so throw them out after two months.

When discover here are trying to keep your teeth healthy, it is important to clean your tongue. Bacteria can build up on your tongue if you are not cleaning it properly or frequently. To clean your tongue, you can use your toothbrush or a tongue scraper. Both work equally well at cleaning your tongue.

After a meal, you may not always be able to brush your teeth; however, some food have cleaning power. End you meal with one of these food choices. Apples, carrots, popcorn and celery are some examples. They clean teeth until you can brush again.

If you require dental surgery, talk to your surgeon to find out exactly what procedures will be performed. Bacteria that normally resides in your mouth can enter the blood stream and cause a very specific and dangerous infection. Bacterial endocarditis causes an infection of the interior lining of the heart's surface. You will probably be prescribed antibiotics prevent this complication.

Feel empowered with the information you've just read as you work out a much better system for taking care of your teeth on a daily basis. You will be glad that you did. Stay informed, and see what your dentist has to say next time you pay him or her a visit.