From what type of toothbrush you should buy to whether or not you need to clean it, here’s
everything you need to know about your toothbrush!

What Kind to Buy

The best kind of toothbrush to buy is any soft-bristled one. Even if you’ve bought firm
toothbrushes for years, here’s why you should switch: harder brushing damages tooth enamel. The bristles combined with toothpaste eliminates the need for you to brush very hard in order to remove plaque and bacteria. A gentle brushing is all that’s needed to clean your teeth and protect tooth enamel. So make it a little easier by getting a toothbrush that’s softer!

When It Needs to Go

Your toothbrush has a pretty short life due to the fact that it’s exposed to bacteria day in and day out. The American Dental Association recommends you get a new toothbrush every four months at the maximum. You should replace your toothbrush sooner if:

 The bristles are frayed (these can damage gum tissue)
 People in your house or you have been sick and you want to be extra careful about
spreading germs
 You just received treatment for tooth decay or gum disease

Fortunately, toothbrushes are relatively inexpensive. Keep a spare one in your bathroom and when you open it, write the date on the package so you know when to replace it!

How to Store It

Since bacteria love to grow in moist, dark environments, keeping your toothbrush in a place like this is a bad idea. Bathrooms tend to be exposed to humidity, so your toothbrush is already at a disadvantage. You can still store your toothbrush in the bathroom, but be sure to keep it in an open space. Use a toothbrush holder and if you share the holder with anyone else’s toothbrush, be sure they don’t touch.

Don’t Ever Share

It’s never a good idea to share your toothbrush with anyone, even if they are a family member or your spouse. Bacteria can easily transfer from mouth to mouth and if the person you share with has gum disease, you could even be exposed to blood. Keep an extra toothbrush on hand for guests but never share your own.

Cleaning Your Toothbrush

It’s almost impossible to get rid of all the bacteria on your toothbrush, so sanitizing it isn’t only unrealistic, it also hasn’t been shown to have much of an effect on your oral health. Giving your toothbrush a thorough rinse after brushing is typically all that’s needed. If you want to give your toothbrush a deeper clean, you can soak it in mouthwash for up to 15 minutes. This isn’t normally necessary if you’re replacing your toothbrush as needed.

When was the last time you replaced your toothbrush? Taking good care of your toothbrush is essential to keeping your smile healthy. Purchase the right one, store it properly, and never share. Rinse it out after every use and you’re good to go. Happy brushing!

The post Everything You Need to Know About Your Toothbrush appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Always Choose Sugar-Free

There are a huge variety of sugar-free gums. Make sure you read the label, as not all gums are created equal. Some gums may still contain sugar, so it’s always best to check. Chewing gum that’s loaded with sugar is basically like sucking on candy, exposing your mouth to acidity and raising your risk for enamel damage and tooth decay.

When you chew sugar-free gum, you increase your saliva production, which actually helps to combat bad bacteria and balance the pH of your mouth. This lowers your chances for having tooth decay in the future. Stimulating saliva flow also makes it more difficult for plaque to stick to your teeth, so you have less plaque and more shine!

Xylitol Is Your Best Pick

Of all the sugar-free sweeteners out there, xylitol takes home the trophy for being the best one for your smile. Why is this? Xylitol has been proven to be a cavity-fighter as it helps neutralize bad bacteria and keeps plaque away. Xylitol has also been found to help improve your enamel, and may even help repair damaged enamel!

Xylitol also packs another punch—it’s more alkaline than other sugar-free substitutes. This means less acidity for your mouth and a more neutral pH. This further helps to balance bacteria and keep your smile healthy and fresh. When choosing sugar-free chewing gum at the store, look for ones sweetened with xylitol for the most benefits.

Don’t Use as a Brushing Replacement

As popular as chewing gum is and as many benefits as sugar-free gum has for your smile, you should never chew gum in place of brushing. Although sugarless gum can help keep bacteria from sticking to teeth and ruining your smile, you still need to brush and floss every day to manually remove plaque and keep your teeth healthy.

You can chew gum between meals or after meals for fresher breath. If you’re running late one morning, chewing on gum with xylitol can help freshen your breath and cut down on plaque growth throughout the day. Never make this a regular habit and use only for emergencies! Brushing and flossing are essential practices for a healthy, strong smile along with dental checkups.

Keep sugar-free gum sweetened with xylitol at the top of your list when it comes to the best chewing gum for your smile. This gum can help prevent cavity formation, restore proper mouth pH, and keep bacteria from attacking your tooth enamel. Chewing gum can be helpful when it comes to your teeth!

The post Choosing the Chewing Gum That’s Best for Your Smile appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Vegetarians Live Longer

First, let’s define the difference between vegetarians and vegans: vegetarians do not consume any meat products, including fish (vegetarians that consume fish are called pescetarians). However, vegetarians still eat dairy and eggs and wear animal products. Vegans, on the other hand, adopt an animal-free lifestyle when it comes to any type of consumption. Vegans do not eat meat, eggs, or dairy, will not wear leather, and tend to ensure all their beauty products are cruelty-free.

Both of these diets have a range of health benefits if done properly. Physicians see less heart disease and cancer among vegetarians as opposed to meat eaters. Vegetarians may also be more health conscious, and will limit their alcohol consumption, sugar intake, and drink more water as well as exercise. People who eat a vegetarian diet tend to have a greater awareness of how food impacts their bodies as well as the planet, and their health benefits from this!

They Tend to Consume Less Vitamin D and Calcium

Many people are deficient in vitamin D, not just vegetarians! However, because of their diets, vegetarians tend to consume less vitamin D3 than non-vegetarians, and vegans tend to do worse on this scale due to the fact that they don’t eat eggs and dairy. Vegetarians also tend not to get as much calcium, although calcium is certainly feasible for vegetarians to consume as they have the option of eating yogurt and cheese.

Vitamin D and calcium are essential nutrients for a healthy smile! Both calcium and vitamin D contribute to formation of strong, healthy bones—and your teeth are rooted in your jaw bones! Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and can also help with gum disease as well as gum inflammation.

How Vegetarians Can Ensure Proper Nutrition for Their Smile

By consuming enough vitamin D and calcium in their well-balanced diet, vegetarians can have excellent dental health as well as bodily health. Vegetarians have the option of consuming dairy products high in calcium and vitamin D including cheese, yogurt, and milk. If you’re a vegetarian that avoids dairy, look for non-dairy alternatives to these products, and find quality supplements. Vegetarians can also aim to get 10-20 minutes of sunlight every day. Our bodies make vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, and can store vitamin D in the body.

If you eat a vegetarian diet, get enough calcium and vitamin D to ensure excellent dental health! Your teeth need strong bones and healthy gums to thrive. As vegetarians are usually healthier than non-vegetarians, ensuring proper vitamin and mineral intake can make for a super-healthy smile!

The post Can a Vegetarian Diet Affect Dental Health? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.