The foods you eat not only affect your overall health; they affect the health of your teeth and gums. For optimum oral health, choose a variety of nutritious foods and brush your teeth at least twice a day.
To help prevent plaque, limit your eating and drinking between meals and be sure to choose nutritious snacks. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth and gums. When these bacteria connect with sugar or starch in the mouth, acid is produced, and this acid can cause tooth decay.
Also, keep an eye on the number of soft drinks you consume each day. Most soft drinks contain phosphoric acid and citric acid. Prolonged exposure to these acids can cause your tooth enamel to erode. To protect against acid attacks, try Crest Pro-Health™ Toothpaste.
Crest Pro-Health is the only toothpaste that protects all these areas dentists check most:
- Fights cavities
- Fights tartar
- Fights plaque
- Fights gingivitis
- Whitens teeth
- Freshens breath
- Fights sensitivity
Tools of the Trade
Does it really matter what type of toothbrush and toothpaste you use? Dental experts say yes. Most dental professionals recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush and replacing it every three months. To help you remember to toss the old one, write the date you need to replace it on the handle using a permanent marker. You also may want to choose a toothpaste containing fluoride to help strengthen your enamel, the hard outer coating on your teeth.
Proper Technique for Brushing Your Teeth
It is recommended that you brush your teeth twice a day. You’ve probably got that part down. But have you checked your technique lately? Here are some tips from the experts at Crest to help you get the best clean.
- Brush gently for two minutes, spending 30 seconds each on the inner and outer surfaces of teeth, the chewing surface of teeth and your tongue.
- To clean the inner and outer surfaces of your teeth, hold the brush at a 45-degree angle. Clean the chewing surface of your teeth by holding the brush flat and brushing back and forth.
- Tilt your toothbrush vertically and use the toe of your toothbrush to clean the back of your front teeth. Use gentle, up-and-down strokes.
- Remove any remaining particles of food by brushing your tongue with a sweeping motion back-to front. This freshens your whole mouth.
- Once your two minutes are up, be sure to floss!
Taking Care of Children’s Teeth
It is important to brush your child’s teeth daily as soon as the first one appears. Wipe the teeth gently using a piece of gauze or a damp cloth. As your child gets older, switch to a toddler toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. You need only a pea-sized amount of paste, and you’ll want to teach your little one not to swallow it.
To help prevent a cavity from forming between your child’s teeth, floss between any two teeth that are touching. Diet is just as important for your child’s oral health as for yours, so offer your child a variety of nutritious foods and limit the number of sugary snacks and drinks you offer.
