Daily Tooth Care
You may already know by now that your body is alive with microorganisms, some helpful and some otherwise. Your mouth is one place that is always teeming with bacteria, and while this is not always a problem, it can be if you don’t brush your teeth regularly.
Tooth decay begins when the bacteria in your mouth use the residue of your food to produce acid. This acid steals minerals like calcium directly from your teeth. The good news is that your teeth can heal themselves, with a little help. Teeth will absorb calcium and phosphate from the healthy foods we eat and from fluoride toothpaste to rebuild themselves. This rebuilding can occur in a matter of hours, especially if you brush your teeth immediately after a meal.
Contrary to popular belief, sugary foods are not the only guilty parties when it comes to tooth decay. Remember that all the foods you eat have to be broken down into sugar (glucose) in order to be used by the body as a fuel source. This process actually begins in the mouth with the saliva, which is specially designed to break down all carbohydrates (even complex starches) into sugar. So, all foods can potentially cause tooth decay if left to the devices of your saliva and the bacteria in your mouth!
Do you remember when you were a kid your mother always made you brush your teeth before bed? Don’t get excited - your mother was not wrong. According to today’s wisdom, however, she was only half right. The ADA now recommends that you brush your teeth at least twice a day.
No matter how well you think you brush or how great the manufacturer says your toothbrush is, only dental floss can reach between the teeth to effectively control plaque and tartar build-up. Overzealous brushing and scrubbing too hard with your toothbrush can damage your gums. For people who have trouble using floss, such as young children or elderly people with arthritic conditions, there are interdental cleaners in stick or pick forms. However, you should consult your dentist on the use of these devices to avoid injuring your gums.
Tags: plaque | tooth decay | toothbrush
