5 Essentials For Your Dental Toolkit
When you smile at yourself in the mirror, do you like what you see? Do you have shiny white teeth to be proud of, or are you a little embarrassed by your teeth? If you’re a little ashamed of the state of your chompers, Wurzbach Parkway Family Dental is here to give you the confidence boost that you need. We know what it takes to achieve a smile to be ultra proud of, and we’re going to let you in on all the tools your mouth needs to become worthy of a toothpaste commercial. Consider these tools as arrows in your quiver, and you’ll find yourself with stunningly fresh teeth in no time.
Toothbrush
This one seems obvious, but do you know how to choose the right toothbrush for your teeth? There are many different makes and models of toothbrushes out there. Just grabbing the cheapest brush or the first one you see won’t cut it. If you truly care about your teeth, then you should put a little muscle behind your toothbrush research.
The American Dental Association recommends that you choose a brush with their ADA seal of approval. This guarantees you a scientifically-qualified brush that is designed according to rigorous governmental standards that ensure:
- All toothbrush components are safe to use
- Both the bristles and brush handle are able to stand up to daily use
- The brush is proven to remove plaque and food particles from teeth without leaving other debris behind
There are two kinds of brushes -manual and electric. Electric toothbrushes, though more expensive than manual ones, aren’t necessarily more effective at cleaning your teeth. However, for people with conditions such as arthritis, electric toothbrushes can make it easier to clean teeth without exerting the extra effort required of a manual brush.
Children may also enjoy electric toothbrushes more, as they are definitely more exciting than manual brushes, and can make it more entertaining to get on board with practicing dental hygiene. Whether it has neon colors, an electric motor, or bells and whistles, we approve of whatever floats your boat, as long as it gets you brushing.
Floss
It’s not about the brand of floss you use, or even what time of day you use it. We just want you to use it. (And here’s how.) Like toothbrushes, we recommend that you use ADA-certified dental floss. Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between your teeth. This greatly reduces your chances of developing cavities, as it helps eliminate the food sources your mouth bacteria love to feed on. When that bacteria is allowed an all-you-can-eat buffet of morsels in between your teeth, it produces acidic waste that corrodes the enamel, weakening your mouth’s ability to fight off cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease. This is why, despite some false claims in 2016, flossing is vital to your daily dental hygiene routine.
Tongue Scraper
Let’s try a little experiment. Stop reading this right now, go stand in front of your bathroom mirror, and stick your tongue out as far as it will go. Do you see any yellowish stuff on the back of your tongue? If you do, don’t be ashamed, because many people never look this close at their mouth. That yellowish stuff on the back of your tongue contributes to bad breath. Even though there’s no evidence that using a tongue scraper gives you a healthier smile, you will be amazed at the amount of “stuff” that comes off the surface of your tongue when you use one. This “stuff” is partly why your breath is less than fresh, and if you get into the habit of using a tongue scraper once a day, you’ll find that you won’t have to worry as much about how good your breath smells because you already took care of a major smelly contributor.
Toothpaste
We don’t feel we have to go too far into this no-brainer. As long as it’s ADA-approved, then it will have the right amount of daily-recommended fluoride and everything else your teeth require to state white and bright.
Mouth Rinse
Mouthwashes freshen breath, clean away plaque and food particles, contribute a healthy amount of fluoride for your teeth, and reverse the effects of tartar and gum disease. Once again, anything ADA-approved should be enough to meet your daily needs.
Keep these five tools in your dental arsenal, and you’re setting yourself up for mouth-healthy success. But here is the most important tool that you should never go without… annual exams from your dentist. They not only can they spot possible issues before they become problems, but they can also advise you on the best ways to keep your mouth clean and healthy. If you haven’t seen a dentist in awhile, feel free to call us here. We’ll be glad to start you off on the right foot toward a healthier smile.
