When it comes to choosing a dentist, many of us don't know where to begin. It can seem risky simply picking one out of the phone book, and who knows how reliable online reviews truly are? Lucky for you, the following article is full of great advice as to how you can pick the best dentist around.
Remember that you are what you eat, and so are your teeth. If you smoke a lot and drink red wine often, your teeth do get discolored. If you want whiter teeth, change what you eat. If it's dark going on your mouth, your teeth are going to get dark from it.
Use fluoride, but not too much. Fluoride helps keep your teeth strong. It is especially helpful for children and teens. Too much fluoride, however, can damage teeth. If your city has fluoridated water, you may want to avoid fluoridated toothpaste. Ask your dentist to learn how to get the right amount of fluoride.
Saliva plays an important part in keeping your mouth clean. If your mouth always feel dry, you need to hydrate more regularly and use antibacterial rinses to make up for the lack of saliva. If you take any medication, look up a list of side effects to find out if your medication could be causing your mouth to be dry.
Your dental care is important even if you have dentures. Dentures require much of the same care as natural teeth. Brushing your tongue is as important, and you should use a special tongue scraper, or your toothbrush, to eliminate the bacteria that cause foul breath.
Each brushing session should last 120 seconds or more. It is important that you clean each and every tooth the best that you possibly can. Don't risk damaging your gums or enamel by brushing too vigorously. Use a soft toothbrush to avoid painful gums during brushing.
When brushing your teeth, make sure you are using a soft bristled toothbrush. You may be tempted to choose a medium or hard bristled brush. However, these are mush harsher on your gums and could lead to bleeding. Instead, use a soft brush and make sure you brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes.
Always choose a toothpaste that has scientific evidence to back up its effectiveness. For example, a toothpaste such as Colgate Plus has the evidence and the effectiveness for optimal teeth and gum health. It is important that all of your toothpaste choices are clinically proven to reduce your risks of getting dental disease.
To help ensure that you are properly cleaning your teeth change your toothbrush every three months. Many of today's toothbrushes come with colored bristles that fade over time. This convenient feature is used to help you know when it is time to change your toothbrush. If you notice your bristles are not changing colors within three months, it is still important to go ahead and change your toothbrush.
Try to avoid brushing too often or too vigorously. It may seem like a good idea to be so vigilant about dental care, but you can actually cause damage which can lead to bigger problems. You should brush at least three times a day.
Wisdom teeth are necessary in the mechanism of chewing food. Most people have their wisdom teeth extracted soon after they emerge. Orthodontist usually remove the wisdom teeth before installing braces or other corrective devices. If your wisdom teeth are causing pain, they should be pulled before they become infected.
As was mentioned earlier in this article, choosing a good dentist is no easy task. For every single great dentist, there are 10 average to below average ones. Make sure you implement the advice mentioned earlier and you will be well on your way towards choosing a dentist you will love for years to come.