You know that plaque is harmful to your smile, but do you know exactly how this substance works to damage your oral health? Here are three ways that plaque can lead to long-term consequences for your teeth and gums!

Plaque Buildup Can Increase Your Risk for Periodontal Disease

Brushing and flossing your teeth go a long way towards removing plaque. However, even the most thorough brushing and flossing routines are bound to miss some plaque. The plaque that gets left behind from where your toothbrush or floss don’t reach can turn into tartar, a hard substance that can only be removed by your dentist.

Both plaque and tartar can build up around the gumline and increase your risk for periodontal disease, also called gum disease [1]. When not removed regularly, the bacteria in plaque can irritate the gum tissue and lead to red, swollen, or infected gums.

Cavities and Sensitive Teeth Can Happen Due to Plaque

Plaque sticks to your teeth and coats your tooth enamel. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, and it coats each and every one of your teeth, protecting the softer tissues underneath and helping your smile stay bright.

The bacteria in plaque can produce harsh acids, which can attack your tooth enamel, causing it to wear away [2]. Unfortunately, once tooth enamel is gone, it can’t regrow. With the enamel gone, the tooth is unprotected and cavities can begin to form. When tooth enamel wears away in this way, it can also cause you to have sensitive teeth.

Without your enamel, temperatures can reach the inner nerves of your teeth, causing painful sensitivity to hot, cold, and even sweet and spicy foods.

Plaque Can Cause Discolored Teeth and Bad Breath

Plaque buildup can cause discolored teeth as a result of tooth enamel damage. The layer beneath your tooth enamel, called dentin, is a softer tissue and naturally has a more yellowish hue.

When tooth enamel gets worn away due to plaque, dentin can begin to show through, leading to discolored teeth that may appear more yellow and stain easier.

Plaque buildup can also lead to chronic bad breath [3]. While not harmful in and of itself, chronic bad breath is usually a sign that another condition is present, such as periodontal disease, which can also result from plaque.

Is Plaque Affecting Your Smile?

Even with regular brushing and flossing, plaque can still affect your smile. If you’re suffering from sensitive teeth, inflamed gum tissue, or chronic bad breath, plaque could be impacting your oral health. An exam and cleaning with your dentist can remove harmful plaque, helping you maintain a strong and bright smile for life!

Sources:
1. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2010/07/mind-your-mouth
2. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-teeth-and-mouth#tooth-decay

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While the frequency of your in-office teeth cleanings will vary based on your unique oral health, teeth cleanings are important for adults and children alike [1]. What can you expect during a professional teeth cleaning? Here’s everything you need to know when it comes to your next appointment!

An Exam of Your Oral Cavity

Before doing any cleaning, your dental hygienist will carefully examine your oral cavity for signs of any issues. The hygienist will be looking for any indicators that gum disease, tooth decay, or oral cancer are present. If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, your dentist will likely recommend that you get x-rays to check for tooth decay and other issues that can’t be seen with an exam alone.

Cleaning and Polishing Your Teeth

Once the exam is complete, your hygienist will remove any plaque and tartar from your teeth before polishing them. Your hygienist will even floss your teeth to be sure they get all the plaque out from tight spaces you may have missed when cleaning your teeth at home [2].

If you have any tartar on your teeth—which is the hardened form of plaque—it will need to be scraped off with a special tool. While the sound can be alarming, this process is painless, so there’s no need to worry.

The cleaning process will include the use of a mildly abrasive paste and a small instrument which is a lot like a toothbrush to polish the teeth. This thorough cleaning and polishing method helps remove surface stains that may have accumulated from foods, drinks, and plaque to give you a truly clean smile!

A Potential Fluoride Application

Most patients, including children, will receive an application of fluoride at the end of their teeth cleaning. Dentists use a professional-grade fluoride solution that helps strengthen the teeth and prevent tooth decay [3]. Not every patient will need this, so you and your dentist can discuss if he or she recommends it before your cleaning begins. The fluoride application is painless, quick, and can give your teeth the boost they need to resist tooth decay until your next visit!

Is It Time for a Teeth Cleaning?

Teeth cleanings are simple processes that have numerous advantages—not only do they help keep your smile clean and strong to resist tooth decay and gum disease, but they also remove surface stains to help keep your teeth bright. Regular teeth cleanings also help spot oral health issues early, giving you the opportunity to correct them with minimal intervention before they get worse! Is it time to schedule a teeth cleaning? Make an appointment with your dentist today!

Sources:
1. https://www.ada.org/en/press-room/news-releases/2013-archive/june/american-
2. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001957.htm
3. http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Member%20Center/FIles/patient_72.ashx

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1. Drinking Seltzer Water

Many people consider seltzer water, sometimes referred to as sparkling water, as a healthier alternative to soda.

While sparkling water with no added sugar can be better than soda in some instances, it’s still infused with carbon dioxide to give it bubbles. However, this carbon dioxide turns into carbonic acid, which lowers the pH of the drink.

What this means is that whereas regular water typically has a pH of around 7, seltzer water has a pH of around 3-4 [1]. Some sodas have a pH of as low as 2, which is extremely acidic, but seltzer water isn’t as much of a healthier choice as people think.

2. Brushing Your Teeth Too Hard

Your tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body, but it can still be damaged from acidic foods and drinks, bacteria, and yes, even brushing your teeth too hard!

Brushing aggressively isn’t necessary to remove plaque from your teeth. Take the time to brush each tooth and floss and harsh brushing won’t be necessary. And remember to choose a toothbrush with soft bristles to further minimize damage to your tooth enamel!

3. Mouth Breathing

Breathing through your mouth can be damaging to your tooth enamel, especially when done on a regular basis. In fact, mouth breathing can promote gum disease and tooth decay [2]! People may breathe through their mouths when snoring, exercising, or just out of habit. Regardless, take steps to curb this harmful habit, which can dry out your mouth and promote bacteria that cause oral disease.

4. Snacking

Constantly exposing your oral cavity to snacks throughout the day can damage your tooth enamel. Snacking is fine, but try to limit your snacks so that you aren’t consistently eating.

When we eat food, our mouths begin to break down the food through bacteria and saliva. But eating too frequently or eating the wrong kinds of foods can harm teeth. When you do snack, choose healthy options such as apples or carrots!

5. Not Addressing Acid Reflux

If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), otherwise known as acid reflux, it’s important to have this condition under control. Not only can acid reflux be harmful to your stomach and esophagus—it can be extremely damaging to teeth.

For some patients with acid reflux, harsh stomach acids can travel up the esophagus and end up in the oral cavity, where they can wreak havoc on teeth. These acids can wear away tooth enamel, leading to tooth sensitivity, discoloration, cavities, and even tooth loss [3].

Did you know any of these five things could hurt your teeth? Be mindful when taking care of your smile. By protecting your teeth and gums with regular healthy habits, you can smile bright for life!

Sources:
1. https://cspinet.org/tip/your-seltzer-habit-harming-your-teeth
2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/oral-health/does-breathing-through-my-mouth-affect-my-dental-health
3. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/e/tooth-erosion-and-acid-reflux

The post 5 Ways You’re Hurting Your Teeth (And Don’t Know It!) appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Healthy gum tissue is essential to the health of our teeth, as it helps to both support the teeth and protect the roots of the teeth from exposure to hot and cold foods, which can cause painful sensitivity.

What could cause healthy gum tissue to suddenly become swollen and potentially lead to gum disease? Let’s take a closer look at why your gums could be unhappy and need professional treatment to get back to normal!

Bacteria and Plaque

Bacteria and plaque are the primary culprits in gum inflammation and disease. In fact, plaque is actually composed of bacteria and food debris left in the mouth. You know plaque as the sticky coating on your teeth if you haven’t brushed for a few hours.

Plaque can build up on teeth, particularly in areas we miss when brushing. When left unchecked, plaque can begin to irritate the gumline, which can lead to a potential infection. Plaque can eventually form in tartar, a hard substance that will need to be removed by your dentist [1].

Genetics Can Contribute

If your parents have a history of gum disease, it’s more likely that you’ll have gum inflammation or disease at some point in your life.

Why is this? Research shows that certain genes are linked to the development of gum disease [2]. By understanding your risk, you can take precautionary measures to prevent problems with your gums.

And remember, just because your family has a history of gum disease doesn’t mean you’ll get it—but it’s important to be aware of your risk!

Other Factors That Can Impact Your Risk

You’ll be more at risk for gum inflammation and disease if you smoke or use tobacco products. You may also be more at risk if you’re pregnant, as this can cause gums to swell due to different hormones and increased blood flow in the body. For this reason, those who take oral contraceptives may be at more risk as well.

Crooked teeth, which can be difficult to clean, and compromised immunity can all impact your risk for inflamed gum tissue. Even being under a lot of stress—which can impact your immune system—can increase your risk for certain problems with your gums [3].

How to Help Prevent Gum Problems

Fortunately, keeping your gums healthy is simpler than you think. By regularly cleaning your teeth—brushing twice daily and flossing once daily—you can help prevent gum disease.

Combine your home care habits with regular checkups with your dentist, and you can help stop gum disease before it even has a chance to start!

Sources:
1. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2017-09/periodontal-disease_0.pdf
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5424192/
3. https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/periodontal-disease.html

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However, you can be too aggressive with your flossing to the point that you actually damage
your teeth and gums. When done incorrectly, harsh flossing can cause a host of problems.
Here’s how you can know if you’re hurting your smile by flossing too aggressively!

You Allow Floss to Damage Your Gumline

Many people forget that it’s your teeth you’re supposed to be flossing, not your gums. Some
people pull too hard on the floss to try and get it in between their teeth and end up pulling the
floss down hard on their gums.

Allowing floss to get underneath your gumline, especially if it’s in a harsh manner, actually
injures your gums. It can cause your gums to bleed in the short term and even worse, can cause
them to recede and accelerate gum disease in the long term.

Allowing floss to hurt your gumline doesn’t help remove plaque. Instead, it can open up spaces
for bacteria to enter your gums and tooth roots, leading to painful infections and even tooth
decay and gum disease.

You Floss Numerous Times a Day

Flossing numerous times a day increases the chances that you’re hurting your teeth and gums.
Flossing your teeth too much can hurt the gumline, which can expose your tooth’s root.

You only need to floss once per day for effective results, especially if you floss gently and
correctly to remove plaque from in between your teeth. If you need to floss again due to
something being stuck in your teeth, this is fine, just try not to make a regular practice out of
flossing numerous times every day!

You’re Too Enthusiastic When Flossing

Some people use floss too enthusiastically, which can hurt both the teeth and the gums.
Forcing floss against the gums or the teeth and using too much pressure can hurt the gums and
even wear away tooth enamel over time.

Digging underneath your gumline with floss isn’t necessary. Flossing should be done with some
pressure, but not excessive pressure. Just like brushing, it’s important to do this task gently for
best results.

If you’re confused about how to floss correctly, ask your dentist to demonstrate during your
next checkup. Many people experience receding gums, gum disease, and root cavities without
realizing that the main problem may actually be their harmful flossing habits!

Don’t skip flossing just because you aren’t sure how to do it correctly or you’re afraid that
you’re harming your teeth. Remember, gums usually bleed because you haven’t flossed in a
while. However, if they bleed regularly while flossing, you may need to floss more gently.
Schedule a checkup with your dentist to review your flossing techniques to protect and
enhance your smile instead of harming it!

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Whether you enjoy a drink a day, a few times a week, or rarely, here’s what you need to know
in regards to alcohol consumption and your dental health.

Increases Damage to Tooth Enamel

Alcohol is very acidic with many drinks containing a pH of around 3-4. With alcohol being so
corrosive, enjoying this beverage can cause your tooth enamel to erode and create weak spots
that are susceptible to tooth decay, discoloration, or tooth sensitivity.

When areas of your tooth enamel are eroded away, your teeth aren’t protected and are more
at risk to experience problems. To keep alcohol from ruining your tooth enamel, be sure to sip
water with your drink and always wait 30 minutes after consuming alcohol to brush your teeth.

More Oral Plaque

Since many forms of alcohol contain sugar, these drinks put you at risk to experience more
plaque on your pearly whites. Plaque is an accumulation of bacteria that feels fuzzy on your
teeth. If left unchecked, this material can harden into tartar, which is impossible to remove at
home.

When drinking alcohol, it’s easy for plaque to build up in your mouth, making tooth decay and
gum disease more likely. In order to keep your mouth plaque-free, it’s imperative to brush
twice a day and visit your dentist for regular cleanings.

Higher Risk of Oral Cancer

Abusing alcohol is the second largest risk factor for getting oral cancer. Oral cancers include
those of the mouth, tongue, throat, lips, and cheeks. Alcohol increases your risk for oral cancer;
in fact, alcohol is a risk factor for many cancers.

The good news is that many oral cancers have a high survival rate of 84% if caught early. Your
dentist can perform an oral cancer screening during your appointment and talk with you about
your risk for oral cancer.

Alcohol Causes Dry Mouth

Since alcohol actually dehydrates your body, it causes dry mouth. Dry mouth has more of an
impact on your oral health than you think. Without proper saliva production, your tooth
enamel is more at risk to be damaged.

Saliva also helps to balance bacteria, so without enough of it, the mouth turns acidic and
bacteria can attack the tooth enamel. This not only increases your risk for tooth decay but can
also cause bad breath.

Alcohol’s dehydrating effect on the mouth can also make oral tissues more susceptible to toxins
and carcinogens, such as those found in cigarette smoke. If you do choose to drink, staying
hydrated with water is important!

No matter how much you drink, it’s important to know how alcohol affects your oral cavity to
understand your risk of health problems such as oral cancer, tooth decay, and dry mouth. Be
sure to follow up with your dentist to ensure your smile is healthy if you enjoy alcohol, even in
moderation!

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Regardless of what’s holding you back from visiting your dentist, keep in mind that there are few things
scarier than the consequences of skipping your annual teeth cleaning. Consider the following health
risks before you decide to forgo that essential dentist appointment!

Gum Disease

With nearly half the adult population of America having some form of gum disease, this might seem like
a common problem that’s not a big deal. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

Gum disease happens when plaque from inadequate oral care builds up around your gum tissue and can
cause inflammation, bleeding, and infection. Without treatment, gum disease is one of the leading
causes of tooth loss in older adults.

In addition, the inflammation and bacteria present in gum disease have been linked to many other
health conditions. From heart disease to diabetes to cancer, research is finding more and more that gum
disease could be linked to disease within the body.

Tooth Decay

Without a professional cleaning, it’s highly unlikely you’re reaching all the areas in your mouth that you
need to in order to remain plaque-free. When plaque is allowed to build up, it can turn into tartar, which
can only be removed by a dentist.

Tooth decay is an unfortunate result of unmanaged plaque. By skipping your annual cleaning, plaque is
allowed to harm your tooth enamel, which can lead to cavities that will need professional treatment.
Having cavities isn’t just inconvenient—it’s damaging to your oral health and can be costly as well. With
a simple professional cleaning, you can help prevent cavities and enjoy a smile free of tooth decay.

Teeth Staining

Besides helping to prevent gum disease and tooth decay, regular cleanings help lift surface stains out of
your tooth enamel. Through regularly removing these stains, your smile remains as bright as possible
without additional treatment.

Although your regular oral care habits at home can help remove stains daily as well, a professional
cleaning can more effectively get rid of those stains. In addition, skipping your cleaning can allow stains
to build up, which can make it harder to remove them later on, even with a professional teeth
whitening.

Greater Risk of Unhappiness

Recent research suggests that skipping regular dental appointments could lead to poorer quality of life,
as people who avoided the dentist tended to have cavities, gum disease, and missing teeth, therefore giving them more anxiety and less happiness about life due to their compromised smile.

Instead of being anxious about your smile or depressed about missing teeth, simply schedule a dentist
appointment at least once a year to keep your smile as healthy as possible!

When was the last time you saw the dentist? Your dentist plays a crucial role in keeping your smile
healthy and disease-free—and who doesn’t want that? No matter how long it’s been since you’ve had a
professional teeth cleaning, reach out to your local dentist today to reveal your beautiful smile!

The post The Consequences of Skipping Those Yearly Teeth Cleanings appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Orthodontic treatment isn’t just for looks. Straight teeth actually encourage a healthy oral
cavity, which means a reduced risk for numerous dental health issues—but why is this?
Here are just a few reasons why straight teeth can encourage a healthy smile for life!

Proper Alignment Eliminates Jaw Issues

The temporomandibular joint, commonly referred to as TMJ, is one of the most complex joints
in your body. It joins the bottom part of your jaw to the top part. Since this joint allows us to
chew and move our mouths in a variety of ways, any issues that arise with this complex joint
can be painful.

A misaligned bite, also referred to as a malocclusion, can cause pain in the face and jaw. Many
people experience overbites, underbites, crossbites, or open bites as a result of misaligned
teeth. When left untreated, these bites can cause chronic pain when chewing or speaking.
Fortunately, orthodontic treatment can correct these problems and enable you to have a pain-
free smile with no more jaw or bite issues!

Easier to Clean and Take Care Of

Crooked teeth or crowded teeth can be nearly impossible to clean properly. The tight spaces in-
between teeth are the perfect places for bacteria, plaque, and food debris to hide. Sometimes,
even the best brushers and flossers can’t get into these tight spaces, making tooth decay and
gum disease more likely.

With orthodontic treatment, all the teeth are moved into their proper positions. This not only
gives you straight, even teeth, but also provides you with a better foundation for your oral
health, as you’ll be able to brush and floss without any issues. Straighter teeth are easier to
clean and take care of, reducing your risk for oral health problems.

Prevent Problems with Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

In addition to being easier to clean, straighter teeth help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
Misaligned teeth not only provide places for bacteria to hide, but they can also prevent people
from seeking the care they need to have a healthy smile.

People with crooked or crowded teeth may be self-conscious of their smile, leading them to
avoid the dentist despite any problems they may encounter. When a straight smile is possible,
people tend to want to take care of their smiles and will seek treatment to keep their smile
looking beautiful.

Whether or not you received orthodontic care as a child doesn’t have to impact your oral
health today. Nearly 25% of all people who have braces are adults. With many treatment
options today to get your smile in shape, in addition to many orthodontists offering payment
plans, your treatment is more achievable than ever.

Don’t let your smile prevent you from having a healthy oral cavity. With straighter teeth, your
smile is easier to care for and you won’t experience the daily pain of having an improper bite.
With a healthy smile, you’ll be ready to take on the world!

The post How Do Straighter Teeth Promote Oral Health? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Plaque is that sticky, colorless pelicule of bacteria that forms on teeth, making them feel fuzzy. It is most visible when we don’t brush our teeth and, by all intents and purposes, it is a true slimy lair of bacteria and the substances they produce. If left untreated this biofilm leads to the damage of tooth enamel, cavity formations, gum diseases, formation of tartar or calculus on the teeth, bad breath and many other dental health disorders. While you can try some reliable halitosis cure methods, ending up on the dentist’s chair to fix cavities and infections just because you indulge in your bad habits is not like a walk in the park. Let’s see today the most common five bad habits that lead to tooth plaque.

1. Poor Oral Hygiene

Forgetting to brush at least twice a day, poor brushing habits, forgetting to floss and skipping your dental visits lead in time to the formation of plaque which can lead to the more dangerous problems mentioned above. Don’t allow plaque to proliferate and become something more health threatening! Brush at least once in the morning and once in the evening and floss daily. Plaque proliferates also in between the teeth and without flossing, you risk more severe damages. Bad brushing is also an encouraging factor for plaque thriving. Brush for the recommended 2 minutes, don’t skin the side of the teeth and the tongue, brush as close as possible to the gums’ line and make sure you reach the teeth in the back.

2. You Eat Junk Food

Sugar and starches are the number one type of foods that contain carbohydrates and leave traces and particulates on your teeth. Cakes, candy, milk and dairy products, sodas, and soft drinks entertain the thriving of bacteria. The bacteria in turn produce acid. In time and with the improper oral health care, these acids lead to the formation of plaque and tooth decay, rotting away the enamel. What few people know is that plaque can also thrive on the tooth roots under the gums thus causing breakdowns of the bones supporting the teeth. If you have such snacks in between your meals, brush your teeth, floss and use antibacterial rinse so you can keep the bacteria causing plaque and gum disease to a minimum.

3. Smoking

Now smoking is a general health problem which unfortunately begins in your mouth. Prolonged smoking leads to plaque build-up, yellow and stained teeth, tooth decay, discolorations, gum diseases, tooth loss, serious cases of bad breath, sore and dry mouth and tongue, and even tongue and cheeks sores and diseases. Of course, smoking can also be a contributing factor to oral cancer and mouth skin / lips irritations or skin conditions (rashes, sores etc.).

Quitting smoking isn’t a walk in the park either and it needs plenty of will and support. Many times it can also require medical and psychological support – but it would be for your own good. In case you can’t quit smoking yet, try brushing your teeth and use antibacterial mouth rinse every chance you get during the day.

4. Your Daily Cups of Java

Your morning coffee might be the only thing to actually wake you up for a new day, but the rest of the coffee cups you pour during work hours or in the evening aren’t as beneficial for your teeth as they might be for you. In fact, since we are here talking about caffeine, what you should know is that too much intake of your daily fuel might actually make you feel exhausted and fatigued due to its rebound effects.

Back to the teeth, coffee does stain your teeth almost immediately and leads up to their over-time yellowing. Of course, being slightly acidic itself, it also entertains the formation of plaque. But while you can still brush and floss in the morning after you had your first coffee cup, it is harder to cut down its effects on your teeth during the work day. Coffee leaves your mouth dry and if you love it with some cream and sugar, well… remember what we said earlier about too much sugar? Cavities and tooth decay, together with tartar are the most probable negative side effects. While the first mug of coffee is acceptable, try replacing the next cups with tea or sugarless natural fruit juices – and use mouth rinse to clear off bacteria in case you can’t brush at the office.

5. Drinking Wine

A glass of red (and natural, high-quality) wine is actually healthy for your heart and circulatory system, but bad for your teeth. Red wines stain your teeth immediately and cause them to yellow. Also, being acidic, they do entertain plaque. The chromogens in the wine (active pigments in red wine) have immediate staining effects. The pigments will set on the tooth enamel as it is not smooth. In order to avoid that, brush and floss the teeth before drinking the wine and try to take a sip of water in between two sips of wine. After you finished dinner or the glass, brush again or use mouth rinse to prevent bacteria from thriving (if you are in a restaurant for instance).

These are just a few bad habits that entertain plaque and its subsequent oral health issues. If you can’t get rid of them altogether, at least don’t skip your dental appointments and follow your doctor’s orders.

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When you wake up in the morning, your mouth feels dry and you likely need a drink shortly after waking. This is because while we sleep, our mouths aren’t producing as much saliva. Not only does this make our teeth and gums vulnerable to bacteria that reside in our mouths, but your vulnerability is increased when you skip brushing.

Dry mouth along with the bacteria from unremoved plaque creates an acidic environment in which your tooth enamel is at risk and tooth decay and gum disease can actively work to ruin your smile.

Bacteria and Plaque Take Over

Due to the fact that your dry mouth creates the ideal environment for bad bacteria, plaque and bacteria take over your mouth while you’re sleeping when you skip brushing. Plaque can begin to harden and irritate your gum line, and your body reacts by engaging your immune system to try and fight what it perceives as an infection. So your body is actually working harder while you sleep when you don’t brush!

Bacteria can also attack your tooth enamel, which can lead to eroded enamel over time and cause cavities and tooth decay, not to mention sensitive teeth. Skipping brushing creates opportunities for your smile to be more affected by bacteria that would normally be removed with nightly brushing before your hours of rest.

The Important Thing

You can protect your smile during your beauty sleep by brushing and flossing before bed. If you don’t have time to floss, save it for the morning—once a day is enough. When it comes to brushing, however, you can better your chances of oral health success by aiming to brush twice a day.

If you forget to brush before bed once in a while, this likely won’t have a huge impact on your smile. The important thing is to not make a habit of it. If you’re going to bed a few nights a week without brushing, you’re putting your beautiful smile at risk for enamel erosion, cavities, gum disease, and plaque buildup. A two-minute brush before bed can prevent this from happening!

Skipping your nightly oral care routine shouldn’t be something you do regularly. Proper brushing before bed for about two minutes is something you should be making a habit of! Remove bacteria and plaque, protect your smile, and reduce your chances of problems with your teeth and gums with nightly brushing. Skipping this simple task has more consequences than you think!

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