Content written by-Dougherty Valentine

How much do you really know about dental care? If you are like most people, you probably do not know much. It is this lack of knowledge that leads to many dental health issues. If you would like to stay away from disaster and properly care for your teeth, these tips are for you.

In order to maximize the effectiveness of brushing, be sure to keep the toothbrush at the correct angle. The brush should be held at a 45 degree from the gum line. This angle allows the brush to reach up into the areas between the gum line and the teeth. Plaque tends to accumulate in these areas, and using the proper angle can help minimize this.

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.





Change your toothbrush every eight weeks. Keeping one longer than this is just introducing bacteria to your mouth, which is contrary to the purpose of brushing. If you have a toothbrush with a removal head, just change the head every two months. Anything used in your mouth longer than this is risky.

Brush ALL of your teeth, every single time. The act of brushing your teeth seems simple enough, so why do so many people do it incorrectly. A recent survey of dentists reveals that one of the most common mistakes people make is brushing only their front teeth. Don't focus on brushing only the teeth that other people see. Your molars and other back teeth are equally important, so don't neglect them!

If you frequently experience dry mouth and bad breath, you probably feel embarrassed or self-conscious when you speak with others. To remedy this problem, treat yourself to a piece of gum or hard candy that contains xylitol. You can also use a scraper or soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clean the top, underside and end of your tongue once or twice daily.

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.

If you have young children, it is important you teach them about dental hygiene. Show them how to properly brush their teeth and teach them to recognize the foods that will damage their teeth. They will have a better hygiene as adults if they get into the habit of brushing and flossing regularly.

If you've just had a meal but don't have access to water, a brush and toothpaste, pop in a stick of sugar-free gum. Dentist recommended this as an adequate substitute until you can brush your teeth properly. Chewing gum will also help remove bits of food that may be lodged between teeth.

If you don't like the taste or texture of toothpaste, consider instead using a paste of baking soda and water. This is a great formula for scrubbing the teeth gently while also leaving a healthy feeling to the mouth. Baking soda is all natural, so it won't cause any problems when you use it.

Milk is good for the teeth because it contains a lot of calcium, but you should make sure to brush after each glass. There are natural sugar in milk and they can lead to tooth decay. Also, drinking milk that is lower in fat will reduce the amount of sugar each glass contains, but it won't effect the calcium.

Studies show that following up your healthy tooth brushing habit with a fluoride rinse can reduce your chance of cavities by as much as a third! That is a lot of potential cavities, so ask your dentist to recommend the most effective wash. Pick up a travel-size too and keep it handy for those times when you can't brush.

Are your gums getting softer, feel inflamed or look swollen? https://www.cda.org/Home/News-and-Events/Newsroom/Article-Details/cda-and-ada-respond-to-who-recommendation-dentistry-is-essential-health-care are signs of gum disease. You should go to your dentist right away to have your gums inspected. You can overcome gum disease if you are ready to improve your oral hygiene and make some changes to your diet.

Always remember to brush the inner surfaces of your teeth as well as the outer surfaces that you can see. Just because you can't see the back surfaces, doesn't mean that they don;t need brushing. Cavities can form in the back surfaces and you might not notice them until they get big enough to feel with your tongue or become visible in the font.

Make sure to floss daily. Too many people skip or forget this step, and it is very important to your dental care routine. You get food and bacteria stuck in between your teeth. A toothbrush can't reach deep in between teeth to remove them. You need to floss at least once a day to prevent dental issues like bad breath, gingivitis, enamel wear, etc.

Many people with bad breath are missing one important part of their oral hygiene process - brushing their tongue! In fact, just by brushing their tongue, people find that they quickly fix their problem and end up with fresh, clean breath in no time, so give it a try yourself!

When choosing a toothbrush, make sure that you pick one that will work well for you. Your toothbrush should be able to easily reach all of your teeth without you needing to strain to get it in all of the places. Make sure that you feel comfortable holding your toothbrush.

In order to keep your teeth as clean as possible, try eating more foods that will help to keep your teeth clean. Apples, celery, and carrots are great foods because the crispness will help to clean your teeth. If you won't be able to brush immediately after a meal, try to have a crisp food as the last thing you eat during your meal.

Remember that your teeth are also crucial to your overall health. It's true that you need to take care of your teeth to prevent toothaches, keep your teeth looking beautiful, and keep your dental bills down. However, oral health is essential to the health of your whole body. Having tooth problems may lead to heart disease, diabetes, systemic infections, an inability to speak or eat properly, and many other things that could be fatal. Even crowded or crooked teeth can cause gum disease that results in tooth loss.

Medications or vitamins that have a high acid content can erode the enamel on your teeth and leave you at risk for cavities, sensitive teeth or decay. Aspirin and vitamin C are two of the more common culprits in this category. Simply rinse your mouth after taking acidic medications or vitamins, especially the chewable ones.

The dentist you decide to see should be one that's good. Cutting corners just won't do. Use the information above to guide you toward good dental health.