As adults, our teeth are pretty important. They don’t grow back, and they let us really enjoy that steak dinner or air-popped popcorn for dessert. The most important rule of making your toothbrush time count is that the longer you go without eating or drinking after you brush, the longer your teeth with enjoy the anti-plaque benefits of toothpaste.
With that in mind, it’s a good idea to brush your teeth after your last meal and snack at night, and after breakfast and coffee in the morning. This way, your teeth don’t have any food particles clinging to them and creating opportunities for decay until the next time you eat or drink. And while we’re on the subject, you do know that coffee both dehydrates you and stains your teeth, right? Not to mention all the sugar, fats, and weird chemicals that we add for flavor. Rule of thumb says a healthy person should drink an extra glass of water for every 8 oz coffee he or she consumes.
Drinking extra water is actually another great way to promote oral health. Water rinses our teeth and gums, and keeps us hydrated. Water also removes some of the decay-causing sugars from our mouths. Since most tooth decay is caused by sugar, and most foods break down into sugars as we chew and digest them, brushing your teeth after you eat is a great way to promote oral health.
Also, get a new toothbrush at least every six months. A toothbrush with bent or broken bristles is no longer doing its job. Neither is one with bits of food and old toothpaste carrying bacteria and germs. If you use an electric toothbrush, read the included directions for use, cleaning, storage and replacement carefully.
When we first begin brushing, the fibers on the brush are stiffer, and the paste we’re using more concentrated. If your dentist has told you to pay special attention to any problem-prone area of your mouth, brush that first. Then, make sure you spend some time on each tooth, brushing with a circular motion and cleaning each side of the tooth for several seconds. While you don’t want to swallow toothpaste, you also don’t want to rinse it’s residual protection off your teeth right away. Dentists usually recommend that you spit out the toothpaste when you’re done brushing, but don’t rinse with water.
Bacteria that contribute to oral decay and bad breath also live on your tongue– a muscle that extends down into your throat. Gargling and brushing your tongue on a regular basis can contribute to better breath and healthier teeth over time. When selecting a mouthwash, remember that while alcohol is a cleaning substance, it is also a sugar, and can be addictive. Many natural mouthwashes are available that do not include alcohol as an ingredient.
It’s a good idea to eat a piece of fruit or raw vegetables– especially apples– after consuming any sugary desserts. This encourages saliva to naturally cleanse your gums and throat, and reduces the bad breath that often results from a high concentration of sugar residue in the mouth. A more common way to reduce plaque build-up and oral decay is to floss prior to brushing your teeth. This cleans the crevices between teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach. Crevices that often catch food particles, and offer a warm wet haven for bacteria and decay. Trust me– your dentist will thank you.
