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It can be hard to care for your teeth, but you must do it for your whole life. You want to have a beautiful smile to last a lifetime, so you have to work at it every day. The article that follows will give you some advice that many people have used to have great dental care.

Visit your dentist regularly. A lot of times dentists are able to spot problems before you ever have any type of pain. If they can find the problems before you have pain, they can usually fix them relatively easily. This can save you a lot of money and pain.

Make sure that if you want to have good oral hygiene that you stay away from sugary drinks. You may not be aware that things like juices are very sugary and can do a lot of damage to teeth. If you're drinking any kind of sugary beverages, make sure to brush immediately afterwards.

A glass of water a day keeps the dentist away. Actually, make that eight glasses of water, or 64 ounces. When you drink enough water, you are less likely to drink things that harm your teeth. When you skimp on water, you fill up on soda pop, Kool-Aid, and other sugary drinks.

Make tooth brushing fun for your young children so that they will want to engage in the habit. Play games with your child like seeing who can take longest to brush their teeth. Give children stickers or stars for completing routines that include tooth brushing, and buy them a small present when they have brushed their teeth for a certain number of days in a row.

When flossing your teeth, don't worry about using too much. Try to get 20 inches, since that's enough to cover the entire mouth. Take your two center fingers, and wrap the floss around them. When you are done, about 2.5 centimeters of floss should remain to clean your first tooth.

Check your toothbrush for how hard the bristles are. You want something that is soft or even medium grade. Hard bristles can actually wear down your enamel over time. You want something that can remove debris and clean the surfaces of your teeth, but not actually do damage to them.





Sugar is a major cause of most types of tooth decay. Eating sugar isn't the only problem. Drinking sugar can be even more harmful. When you drink sugary drinks, the sugary residue just sits on your teeth. It coats your mouth. As long as the sugar is on your teeth, it is causing damage.

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.

If you are not sure which dentist to visit, talk to the people that you know. Chances are, if a family member or friend has had a good experience with a dentist, you will too. You can also speak with your doctor or check online to find possibilities that might be suitable.

Chewing ice is bad for your teeth. This is a habit you should stop right away. Ice can easily crack or chip your teeth and the cold can trigger very painful reactions from sensitive nerves. As an alternative, try chewing a minty sugarless gum. If needed, do not put any ice cubes in your drinks. Otherwise, you may be tempted to munch away.

If you find that your mouth and lips are dry a lot, tell your dentist about it. If you are taking medications, they may be the cause. Your dentist will be able to tell you whether your medications are causing your dry mouth, and can help you determine how you can treat it.

Do you know how often you should replace your toothbrush? You should make sure to replace your toothbrush every couple months. This helps avoid bacteria and makes sure the bristles are properly cleaning your teeth. If you don't do this soon enough, you won't have a very effective toothbrush.

When you are trying to take care of your teeth, look up natural remedies. A lot of the time, a natural remedy can help you to ease some issues without expensive treatments or chemicals. Talk to your dentist about natural remedies you are trying, in order to get an idea of whether they are right for you.

Make sure to see the dentist at least twice every year. Even if you only have your teeth cleaned, the hygienist will note any developing problems and point them out to the dentist. It is much easier, and cheaper too, to have any small cavities fixed before they get any bigger.

Ask http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/4732614 if you need fluoride supplements. Some cities and towns do not have fluoride in their water supply, and if you don't know whether you do, your dentist should be able to tell you whether you need those supplements. You may not need them, so be sure to ask your dentist first.

If your teeth are painful, don't put aspirin next to them. Some people believe that setting aspirin pills next to the ailing tooth will ease the pain. This can actually make your tooth burn and decay.

When seeking dental care from a professional you have not seen before, take the time necessary to verify all credentials and licensing of a prospective practitioner. In this way, you can be comfortable knowing that you will be treated by someone with the education and training necessary to do the job you need.

Give yourself a cleaner mouth by adding baking soda to your toothpaste a couple times each week. Baking soda is one of the most effective methods of making teeth whiter and removing bacteria. You can put it on your teeth and brush it with your finger.

Far too many individuals avoid seeking proper dental care due to mistaken beliefs about what common treatments entail. However, education on the topic can go a long way toward battling those misconceptions and paving the way to increased dental health. With any luck, the tips and information found above have helped provide the sort of insight needed.