Cleaning your teeth well when you have braces will take more time, but will also be more
important. Your wires and brackets create extra areas for plaque and food particles to hide,
increasing your risk of gum disease while you’re getting your smile straightened.

How can you brush your teeth when you have braces? The following steps will lead you to a
squeaky clean smile!

First: Choose the Right Tools

Choosing the right tools to be your partners during orthodontic treatment is essential. You’ll
need the following items for a proper cleaning:

 A soft-bristled toothbrush. This helps you brush more gently and prevent enamel
damage.

 An interdental cleaner. These cleaners are a second toothbrush of sorts; they’ll help
you brush more efficiently underneath the wires and around the brackets of your
braces.

 Waxed floss. A waxed floss will make it easier to floss your teeth and allow the floss to
glide in and out.

 A floss threader. These little threaders are going to make flossing with bracesmuch
easier!

Now that you have your tools, let’s get cleaning!

Next: Rinse Your Mouth

Before you decide whether to brush or floss first (experts say it doesn’t matter which happens
first as long as you do them both), go ahead and rinse your mouth with water.

Why this step? As we discussed, braces provide lots of extra places for food particles to hide. In
order to make your job of cleaning your teeth and braces easier, it can help to loosen or
remove any food particles by vigorously swishing water around in your mouth.

Now, decide whether you want to brush or floss!

Then: Floss In-between Teeth

Flossing is going to be one of the most challenging parts of having braces, but it’s essential for
removing plaque from those hard-to-reach areas in-between your teeth.

A floss threader can make life with braces much easier. These threaders help the floss go
underneath your wire, allowing you to effectively reach the space between each of your teeth.

Once the threader is underneath the wire, you can remove it and then proceed to floss the
tooth. Pull the floss out when done, and use a clean section for each set of teeth you clean
between.

Although it doesn’t matter whether you floss before or after brushing, experts do recommend
saving flossing for the end of the day to ensure you remove all food particles before sleeping.

Last: Brushing Your Teeth

Finally, place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle down towards the gums. Gently brush your
teeth, your brackets, and your wires to remove plaque. Brush everything that you can reach
with your toothbrush.

For the places your toothbrush doesn’t quite seem to reach, grab your interdental cleaner and
gently brush around the brackets. A quick rinse of the mouth again and you’re done!

Cleaning your teeth with braces might feel like a chore at first, but you’ll get used to this
important practice. All your hard work with be worth it when the braces come off and you have
a smile that’s not only straight, but healthy too!

The post How Should I Brush My Teeth When I Have Braces? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Carbonated drinks are made with carbon dioxide, which is added to the water under pressure
to make the bubbles you love. Sparkling water is an attractive option for people who love the
fizz of soda but want to protect their teeth from the acidity and harmful sugar content of these
drinks.

All carbonated drinks pose some risk to teeth—here’s why.

It Turns into Carbonic Acid

Carbon dioxide turns to carbonic acid in your mouth after you consume sparkling water. This
makes this beverage more acidic than regular water. If you’re drinking sparkling water with fruit
added to it such as lemons or limes, this will make it even more acidic.

Although carbonic acid isn’t nearly as damaging to tooth enamel as soda, it still is more acidic
than plain water. This makes it more likely to affect your tooth enamel and even wear away
your tooth enamel under certain circumstances.

It’s Not as Good as Plain Water

Sparkling water is still safe to drink and is much healthier for your smile than a traditional soda.
Water has a neutral pH of around 7, while some sodas can be as low as 2, which is extremely
acidic. Sparkling water has a pH of 3-4. Remember that anything below 4 is considered to be
harmful to your tooth enamel.

People who already have trouble with sensitive teeth and enamel erosion may consider
consuming less sparkling water than those who have healthy smiles. If you already have oral
health problems, plain water may be your safest beverage.

So is sparkling water better for your smile than soda? Absolutely. Is sparkling water better than
regular water? The answer is no.

How to Drink Sparkling Water Safely

You can still enjoy sparkling water and minimize any potential acidic effects on your smile by
doing a few things. First, choose mineral sparkling water. This type of water contains beneficial minerals such as
calcium phosphate, which can help protect the smile from the lower pH of carbonated water.

Secondly, drink your carbonated beverages with a meal. While eating, saliva is produced to
buffer your teeth against any harmful foods. This can also help guard your teeth against any
potential harm from sparkling water.

Third, remember that if you have any oral health issues such as dry mouth or sensitive teeth,
it’s a good idea to minimize your consumption of sparkling water. Although there’s no specific
amount that you should or shouldn’t drink, remember that regular water is always your best
choice.

Do you enjoy carbonated beverages? Consider that while carbonated water is better than soda,
it’s still a bit more acidic than traditional water. Regular water should always be your main
beverage, but it’s healthy to enjoy sparkling water on occasion as long as your smile is healthy
and you take advantage of the above tips to minimize damage!

The post Are All Carbonated Drinks Harmful to Your Teeth? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Brushing your teeth is great, although unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to remove all the
plaque. Research shows that many people routinely miss certain areas of their teeth, and if
you’re not flossing or skip flossing regularly, you’re missing even more plaque. Built-up plaque
can turn into tartar over time.

Tartar is a hard substance that’s impossible to remove at home. Removing tartar and built-up
plaque regularly with professional teeth cleanings can help reduce your risk for cavities and
gum disease. Your dentist can talk with you about areas you’re missing during your visit to help
improve your brushing habits!

You May Be Predisposed to Oral Health Problems

Everything about us is the result of genes that we inherited from our parents. This is true for
tooth and gum health as well. You may be genetically predisposed to tooth decay and gum
disease, even if you brush and floss regularly. This is why it’s so important to visit your dentist
for cleanings. They can give you the extra help you need for preventative care when it comes to
your smile.

Some people also have a specific mouth structure that’s more difficult to clean than other
peoples’. This includes a smaller mouth with crowded or crooked teeth. These spaces are nearly
impossible to clean properly with home care, making a dentist visit every few months essential
to keeping plaque and tartar away.

Benefit from a Dental Exam

While you’re at the dentist getting your professional cleaning, your dentist can perform a
dental exam to assess your oral health. This includes an oral cancer screening, which should be
done annually starting at age 18, and other preventative measures. Your dentist can tell when a
cavity is in the works and together, you can put steps into place to prevent it.

Your dentist will also help you improve your home care habits to stop cavities and tooth decay.
Removing these bacteria regularly may help improve heart health by keeping bacteria out of
the bloodstream. Professional teeth cleanings also regularly remove surface stains on the teeth,
keeping your smile as bright as possible.

The verdict is in—cleaning your teeth daily is essential, but so are regular dentist visits with
professional teeth cleanings. This way, you have a 360 protection plan against harmful oral
diseases and cavities. To protect your teeth as much as possible, schedule a visit with your
dentist and keep up with your healthy brushing and flossing habits!

The post If I Brush and Floss Regularly, Do I Still Need Teeth Cleanings? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Over Bushing Can Damage Enamel

Did you know that there is such a thing as over brushing your teeth? Teeth that are brushed too often or too roughly can experience enamel damage. This means that the outer protective layer will erode away and can lead teeth to experience tooth decay.

Brushing more than twice a day—such as after every meal or numerous times per day—increases the likelihood that your teeth will suffer enamel erosion from your consistent brushing. If you feel the need to brush after every meal, ensure that your brushing is done gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush and never before 30 minutes after you’ve eaten your last meal.

Overuse of Mouthwash Can Harm Bacteria

Using mouthwash can be a great asset to your oral health routine. Not only does it help kill germs that can cause bad breath, but it can also help prevent plaque from sticking to your teeth and remove food particles from tight spaces that your brush can’t reach.

However, using mouthwash too often can actually harm your beneficial oral bacteria. Your mouth is home to up to 700 different types of oral bacteria, and not all of them are bad. There are some types of oral bacteria that actually help protect your smile. When you use mouthwash too often, you can upset your bacterial balance and damage your teeth and gums. How often is too often? Two times a day is safe, three times or more is considered harmful!

Flossing too Much Can Cause Gum Damage

Flossing is excellent for your oral health and should be done once a day. This helps remove stuck food, cleans the surfaces of your teeth that you can’t reach, and helps prevent cavities and gum disease. Flossing is great, but flossing too much could hurt your gums.

If you haven’t flossed in a long time, you’re familiar with that sore feeling—and maybe even a bit of blood—that comes with flossing for the first time. When you floss too often, the same can happen to your mouth. Your gum tissue and even your enamel can be damaged from flossing too often. Instead of helping your smile, it could contribute to gum recession and cavities!

How often is too often? Once per day is all you need, two or more is considered excessive. Are you a little too good at keeping your smile clean? Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash numerous times per day may seem like beneficial steps to protect your smile, but they can actually end up being harmful. Getting dental checkups regularly can help you protect your smile, and all you need to do is brush, floss, and use mouthwash as directed!

The post Are You Cleaning Your Teeth Too Often? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Convenience of Care

When you’re a busy professional who can’t squeeze in a checkup every six months, this is understandable to most. However, tooth decay and gum disease don’t discriminate. In fact, experts estimate that 47% of Americans have some form of gum disease. That’s nearly half of the American population! Gum disease can eventually cause tooth loss, in addition to sensitive teeth, bad breath, and gum recession. Dental care is more convenient today than ever before. Many places allow you to book appointments online. Your smartphone can easily remind you of your appointment. Often a checkup and cleaning takes less than an hour, so you’re back to your routine in no time!

No Dental Coverage

Over 100 million Americans lack dental health insurance. This plays a huge role in the majority of people not getting the dental care they need. The people who suffer most are children. 1 in 4 kids today have tooth decay. Without checkups, these cavities often go unnoticed and lead to rotten teeth or the loss of permanent teeth in older children.

Adults without dental insurance aren’t doing much better. 56% of adults without dental coverage routinely skip preventative treatment. Without preventative care, ailments such as oral cancer in addition to tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth infections are left to get worse. You can still receive dental care even if you don’t have health insurance. Talk to your dentist to see if they offer interest-free financing through CareCredit. Ask what programs are available in your community in order to receive low-cost or even free dental screenings. The best cure is prevention!

Dental Anxiety

People with dental anxiety feel fear, dread, and terror when they think about going to the dentist. Instead, people who experience this type of anxiety often suffer instead of getting preventative care or treatment. With nearly 30% of all adults having at least one untreated cavity, avoiding the dentist due to dental anxiety is never a good idea. Consider the cost of avoiding the dentist: while it may cost you only $150 to get a cavity filled, a root canal can be upwards of $900! That’s a huge price jump for simply letting a cavity progress to the point that it can’t be filled.

Find a dentist who’s experienced at treating patients with dental anxiety. You want a compassionate, friendly dentist who offers sedative dentistry options to help keep you calm during your visit. Don’t forgo care just because of your anxiety! For all the reasons people avoid the dentist’s office, none of them are genuine excuses to not seek preventative care. There are options available to you. Talk with your local dentist about resources you can utilize to access the care you need for an affordable price. Your smile will thank you later!

The post A Majority of Americans Aren’t Receiving the Preventative Dental Treatment They Need appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

How can you know if you have good oral health? By answering these questions, you can find out where you stand when it comes to excellent oral hygiene!

Do You Follow the Two Minutes Two Times Rule?

The two minutes two times a day rule refers to brushing your teeth. This means that for two minutes two times a day, you should be gently brushing your teeth! Do you brush your teeth for the full two minutes, and do you actually take the time to brush twice a day? If you answered no to even one of these questions, you could be setting yourself up for subpar oral health!

Do You Floss After Meals?

Flossing once a day is crucial to help clean the surfaces of your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach. By flossing after meals, you can effectively remove plaque and trapped food particles that would otherwise affect the protective enamel layer of your teeth. Floss is easy to keep with you and flossing can help clean teeth and gums better than brushing alone.

Are You Eating a Healthy Diet?

What we eat has a huge impact on our health. Eating lots of sugary foods will create an imbalance of good and bad oral bacteria in your mouth. When the bad bacteria take over, your mouth becomes acidic and your enamel is subject to damage. This can cause cavities, sensitive teeth, and bad breath! By eating a well balanced diet with lots of fresh vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats, you can maintain excellent oral health.

How Often Do You Replace Your Toothbrush?

If it’s been more than three months since you’ve replaced your toothbrush, you’ve got a problem. Soft- bristled toothbrushes are the best kind to have since they’re gentle on your teeth. Your soft-bristled toothbrush doesn’t have to fray to mean it needs to be replaced. Dentists agree that three months is the maximum amount of time before getting a new one due to its daily use and bacteria exposure!

Do You Smoke?

Smoking greatly increases your risk for oral diseases, including gum disease and oral cancers. If you smoke or use tobacco products, quitting can help restore your oral health. Talk to your dentist about setting a date to quit!

How Often Do You Visit Your Dentist?

Speaking of dentists, how often do you visit yours? You should be visiting your dentist at least once a year, ideally every six months. Some people may need to see the dentist more often, some less often. Your dentist can assess your oral health and let you know what’s appropriate for you. Visiting your dentist can not only help prevent oral health issues, but also keeps your mouth clean and healthy!

So how good is your oral health based on your answers? Maintaining proper oral health is a habit that’s easy to make. By ceasing use of tobacco products, eating a balanced diet, and visiting your dentist, you can help your smile to stay healthy for life. Of course don’t forget to brush and floss—and replace that toothbrush if it’s been longer than three months!

The post Do You Have Good Oral Health? Answer These Questions to Find Out! appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Why else should you visit your dentist this month? Here are the top three reasons December is the best time to get that last check-up in!

Cosmetic Dentistry for the Holiday Season

Maybe you’re avoiding seeing your dentist because you’re embarrassed about your smile. If it’s been a little while since you’ve seen the dentist and you need cosmetic dentistry work done, December is the perfect time to go before the holidays! Your dentist is an experienced professional who sees all types of smiles. Getting the treatment you need shouldn’t be impossible because you have dental anxiety.

Talk with your dentist about what experience he or she has in treating patients with dental anxiety and smiles who need treatment like yours. Chances are, your dentist will be friendly, open, and professional about helping you restore your smile and getting done any cosmetic dentistry work before the holidays. You’ll be amazed at how fabulous your smile can look for family and friends this year!

Get Your Second Check-Up and Cleaning

If you’ve gotten a check-up and a professional teeth cleaning once already this year, that’s great! However, it’s ideal to visit your dentist at least twice a year to ensure your teeth are healthy. Since no two smiles are the same, your dentist may recommend that you come in more or less often, depending on how healthy your smile is.

Regardless, getting that second check-up in December is perfect timing. During your check-up, your dentist can ensure your smile is healthy by checking for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, and even oral cancer and TMJ disorders. Your dentist will also professionally clean your teeth, removing surface stains and helping your smile look its best and brightest for the holiday season!

Start the New Year Right

If improving your oral care is on your New Year’s resolutions list, visiting your dentist in December makes your goal all the more achievable. Small practices you incorporate into your oral health routine like flossing, using mouthwash, or even getting a new toothbrush can help improve the health of your smile! When you visit your dentist in December for a check-up, you’re starting the New Year right when it comes to oral healthcare. Nothing is more attractive than a healthy smile—so make it to your dentist before January to start a healthy New Year!

This December, schedule an appointment with your dentist to get that second check-up in, talk about cosmetic dentistry, and get a professional cleaning to start the New Year off right. You can ensure a healthy smile all year long for 2017, so don’t put off that dental appointment this December. Happy New Year!

The post Why December Is the Perfect Month to Visit Your Dentist appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

If You Have Bad Breath…

The tongue can harbor plaque and bacteria just like the rest of our mouths, but since the tongue is
constantly bathed in saliva, moving against certain foods, and cleaning itself, the plaque and bacteria don’t gather on the tongue in the same way they do in the small spaces between our teeth or on the surfaces of our teeth. However, if you have bad breath, the tongue might actually be housing a lot of the bacteria that could be causing your bad breath. Many people find brushing their tongue helpful when it comes to bad breath, especially in the morning. If you find that brushing with a tooth brush makes you gag, there are certain “tongue scrapers” that you can buy. While these are not necessary for optimal oral health, you may want to consider these if you have bad breath or an unpleasant taste on your tongue from certain foods. Usually, the taste from certain foods will go away quickly as the tongue cleans itself, but for certain foods like garlic, salmon, or onions, the taste may unpleasantly linger. Bad breath can also be a sign of gum disease or tooth decay, so remember to always get routine check-ups with your dentist!

Is it Necessary?

Cleaning your tongue is not strictly necessary as long as you keep your mouth clean. This means
brushing at least once a day, flossing once a day or between meals as necessary, and visiting your
dentist. Brushing your tongue is optional. The bacteria on the tongue can spread back to the teeth and gums after brushing if the tongue is not itself brushed, but as it takes at least 24 hours for plaque to form in your mouth, you should be fine as long as you’re brushing once a day. Remember that it’s the quality of your brushing that matters over quantity—no use in brushing your teeth several times a day if you are missing the same areas every time, therefore allowing plaque to build up! Your dentist can talk with you about which areas are being missed in your mouth when brushing just by examining your teeth during your check-up.

While many people give their tongue a quick scrub, it’s not wholly necessary. If you have bad breath or frequently eat foods that feel like their taste “clings” in your mouth, you may find it helpful to brush your tongue along with your regular brushings. As always, healthy oral hygiene consists of brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist!

The post Do I Really Need to Clean My Tongue? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.