12 Things People Ignore About Their Teeth

Everyone knows that brushing their teeth is important for good oral health. However, that’s not the only thing that people should be keeping up with in order to ensure that their teeth and gums last for years to come. Here are 12 things people ignore about their teeth that you should be sure to keep in mind.

Not Using The Right Toothbrush

Having just any old toothbrush is good as long as you are brushing, right? That’s certainly not the case. In fact, you want to ensure that the size of your toothbrush head is appropriately shaped for the size of your mouth. In addition, the handle should be something that is comfortable and easy enough for you to grip.

Be Sure To Change Your Toothbrush Regularly

Not only should your toothbrush be the appropriate size, but it’s also important to ensure that the bristles are in proper working order as well. If your bristles are starting to wear and not look nearly as strong as they were when you bought the brush, it’s time that you change them out. Typically this means every three months, but it could differ depending on your personal use.

Flossing Is Just As Important As Brushing

After brushing your teeth for two minutes, most people will just rinse their mouth and think that they are done for the day with oral care. However, flossing is an integral part of keeping up with your teeth and gums and it should be something you add to your daily routine as often as possible.

Avoid Flossing To Aggressively

While flossing is something that you should do every day, it’s not something that you should do until your gums bleed. For those that don’t floss daily, their gums may get weak and they might even bleed every time they floss. However, if you floss daily, your gums will get stronger, which means that you shouldn't just keep flossing until you bleed. Flossing is good for clearing your mouth of bacteria buildup and it strengthens your gums; not to make you bleed in order to know that it’s working.

Mouthwash Is Helpful

The emphasis here is on “helpful.” If you are running short on time, you may think that just using mouthwash is enough to keep up with proper oral health. However, mouthwash is only good to flush away particles that your toothbrush and floss breaks up, and it won’t be able to cleanse your mouth on its own.

Take Care Of Your Teeth After Each Meal
Most people are raised to think that they should brush their teeth first thing in the morning and right before they go to bed at night. However, you can take it an extra step and brush after each meal. Not only will this give you fresh breath throughout the day, but it’ll also ensure that buildup doesn't accumulate on your teeth and gums.

Visit Your Dentist Routinely

If you don’t have anything wrong with your teeth, you might think that you don’t need to visit your dentist. After all, it can be a time consuming effort to make these appointments regularly. However, visiting your dentist routinely will ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy, especially in areas that you may not be able to see when looking in the mirror.

Fixing Dental Problems Helps In The Long Run

After chipping or cracking a tooth, some patients may wait an extended period of time before seeing their dentist to get things fixed. However, the longer that these small problems go unattended to, the larger the issues they become. Instead, make sure that you fix small problems sooner than later, in order to avoid larger issues in the long run.

Don’t Forget Your Dental Retainer

Patients who have had braces at one time or another might think that their teeth are straight and they will stay that way forever. However, a dental retainer is important for those that have had braces, especially if they don’t want their teeth to shift back to how they were in the past.

Having Dental Work Doesn't Mean You Can Skimp On Routine Care

Another concern is that patients who have had dental work done, whether it’s veneers or other treatments, often think that they don’t need to keep up with routine care on a daily basis. However, just because your teeth may have been fixed and look great, that doesn't mean that you don’t need to keep up with care moving forward.

An Apple A Day

The saying, “an apple a day will keep the dentist away” isn't something that your mother used to tell you just to get you to eat your vegetables. Instead, fruits, veggies and a healthy diet are vital for lasting oral care. They will keep your mouth cleansed, while also supplying you with vitamins and minerals that you need for overall health.

Don’t Forget The Tongue

If you've spent all that time brushing your teeth and flossing your gums, don’t be so quick to leave the bathroom just yet. Instead, you’ll also want to be sure that you are cleaning your tongue, as this is a hotspot for bacteria to build up. However, by cleaning your tongue you can make sure that the rest of your mouth is healthy as well.