Braces versus Retainers: A Comprehensive Overveiw

4 Teeth Cleaning Strategies To Make Your Next Dental Appointment Enjoyable

20 January 2016 by Lonnie Bryant

Visiting a dentist can be frightening, especially when you're sitting in a chair amidst a bevy of fear-provoking equipment. While the mere thought of a needle being poked into your gums or a drill being used for your teeth is enough to keep you away from the dentist, you naturally cannot stay away for too long if you want to retain your healthy teeth. These smart teeth cleaning strategies will ensure that your next appointment at the dentist's clinic is far better than ever before.

Brush Your Teeth More Softly

Many people think that scrubbing their teeth clean with a toothbrush is the best way to brush, but this action will ruin your teeth enamel quicker and will cause you to visit the dentist more regularly than you desire. The best thing you can do for your teeth is to hold the toothbrush softly at a slight angle and follow a circular brushing motion. Brushing your teeth too hard in a back-and-forth motion will damage the structure of your teeth and will cause your gums to start receding. Apart from brushing more softly, your teeth enamel and gums will benefit from a softer-bristled toothbrush.

Change Your Toothbrush When You Notice Wear

Using a frayed and old toothbrush is not going to get your teeth clean, so make sure you replace it when you notice the bristles showing signs of wear and tear. Apart from being ineffective, old toothbrushes may contain harmful bacteria. This harmful bacteria is likely to cause teeth infections and gum diseases over time, so you should change your toothbrush the minute you notice signs of wear.

Floss Before Brushing

Using a toothbrush is simply not enough when it comes to cleaning your teeth effectively. Flossing before you brush will help to loosen the plaque that settles between your teeth, which is difficult to remove with only a toothbrush. Make sure you floss all gaps, using a clean area for each tooth. Use the floss gently, so you don't end up with bleeding gums.

Chew Gum Between Meals

While it may not always be possible to brush your teeth after every meal, keep some sugar-free gum handy to keep cavities away. This is because food tends to linger on your teeth after you eat, causing bacteria to form on them. Sugar-free gum will help to remove teeth-clasping food debris when you cannot brush or floss because the motion of chewing gum increases the flow of saliva in your mouth. The increased saliva will wash away bacteria and food from your mouth more easily, helping to protect your teeth and saving you trouble during your next visit to the dentist.

Following these cleaning strategies will keep your teeth and gums well protected, so your next visit to the dentist will probably be a pleasure, or at least less of a pain. For more tips on keeping your teeth in good health, talk to your dentist.

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