Personal Dental Care and Maintenance Includes:

 

Flossing

 

Flossing removes plaque and bacteria that you cannot reach with your toothbrush. If you don't floss, you are missing more than one-third of your tooth surface. Plaque is the main cause of gum disease. It is an invisible bacterial film that develops on your teeth every day.  Within 24 to 36 hours, plaque hardens into tartar (also called calculus), which can be removed only by professional cleaning. Floss at least once a day, and plaque never gets the chance to harden into tartar.

Be sure to ask your dentist how to floss.

 

Brushing

 

Regular, thorough brushing is an important step in preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Brushing removes the bacteria that promote tooth decay and the plaque that can cause gum disease.

Ideally, you should brush after every meal, because the bacterial attack on teeth begins minutes after eating. At the very least, brush once a day and always before you go to bed. Be sure to ask your dentist how to brush your teeth.

 

Nutrition

 

A balanced and nutritious diet is good for your general health and your dental health. Without the right nutrients, your teeth and gums can become more susceptible to decay and gum disease.  Sugar is one of the main causes of dental problems.

 

• Try to choose sugar-free snacks - see the snacks listed below.
• Add less sugar to coffee or tea (or use sugar substitutes).
• Avoid sugar-sweetened soft drinks.
• Look for fruit juices and drinks with no added sugar.
• Honey, molasses, liquid invert sugar, glucose, and fructose are all types of sugar.
• When you eat sweets, avoid sticky sweets. They cling to teeth and are harder to brush away. Eat sweets with a meal, not as a snack. The increased flow of saliva during a meal helps to wash away and dilute sugar.

 

Prevention

 

Research now shows there may be a link between oral disease and other health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke, as well as pre-term and low-birth-weight babies. While this research is ongoing, there is increasing evidence to support that a healthy mouth is an important part of a healthy life.

 

Help keep your mouth healthy by following these five steps:

 

1. Practice Good Oral Hygiene

• Using a soft bristle toothbrush, brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day to remove plaque and bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. Choose a size and shape that allow you to reach all the way to your back teeth.
• There are many types of brushes, so ask your dentist to suggest the best toothbrush for you.
• Floss every day. If you don't floss, you are missing more than one-third (1/3) of your tooth surface.
• When choosing oral care products, look for the ADA Approved Seal of Recognition.

 

2. Eat a well-balanced diet

• Healthy food is good for your general and oral health.
• Without the nutrients that come from foods, your teeth and gums cannot fight cavities and gum disease.
• Avoid excess sugar, as it is one of the main causes of dental problems.

 

3. Check your mouth regularly

• Look for warning signs of gum disease such as red, shiny, puffy, sore or sensitive gums; bleeding when you brush or floss; or bad breath that won't go away.
• Report any of these warning signs to your dentist.
• Gum disease is one of the main reasons why adults lose their teeth.

 

4. Don't smoke

• Tobacco use is a major cause of tooth loss through gum disease and may lead to serious problems like oral cancer.
• Tobacco can cause heart disease and a variety of cancers.

 

5. See your dentist regularly