Cavities are not what we qualify as a good time! They can sometimes be painful. They lead to lasting damage, and can even lead to tooth failure! Follow these steps to prevent tooth erosion in your smile.
Brush: Please brush your teeth for 2 minutes, twice a day. This is a major part of keeping your smile healthy! Use a very soft-bristled toothbrush, to prevent damage to your tooth enamel and to your gum tissues. Hold the brush at a 45* angle to your gumline, and move the brush back and forth using short strokes. Instead of “scrub,” think “massage.”
Floss: Brushing your teeth is only half the battle. Flossing every day for 2-3 minutes makes a huge difference in your smile! Use a single-filament thread when possible. If traditional flossing is hard for you, talk with your doctor about interdental cleaning alternatives, such as water flossing.
Chew Gum: To defend against cavities, your body developed an effective solution: saliva. Saliva gives fortifying substances to your enamel. It also washes away food debris, and neutralizes acids. Chewing sugar-free gum increases saliva production, bringing all of these benefits to your mouth. Of course, chewing sugar-sweetened gum also encourages saliva production. The added sugar, however, feeds the very bacteria your saliva is trying to fight, so it doesn’t do you much good. Stick with sugarless gum for the benefits of chewing gum! Chewing gum is not a substitute for brushing and flossing, but it can give your mouth an extra boost in the fight against cavities.
For more information, call Shaia Dental Care in Middleburgh Heights, Ohio, at 440-884-9898. Dr. Anthony Shaia and our team are happy to help you keep your smile healthy!