How often should I brush my teeth

Life is busier than ever, and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to remember all the things that need doing. One important thing you shouldn’t forget to do is to brush your teeth. If you are not brushing your teeth as regularly as you should then what can you do to get in the habit? This article offers a few suggestions for you. Firstly, though, let’s answer the question ‘how often should I brush my teeth’.

WHAT THE surgeon RECOMMENDS

Your surgeon will likely agree with the recommendations given by the American Dental Association (ADA) to help protect your dental health. Their website suggests that you should brush your teeth at least twice a day using fluoride toothpaste, brushing for at least two minutes each time. Along with tooth brushing it is also recommended that you floss at least once, making sure to go up into the gum line.

They also suggest using a mouthwash to finish. The objective is to remove food particles from the mouth and remove any plaque buildup. You may also consider using sugar-free chewing gum after eating a meal. Chewing produces saliva which breaks down sugars that bacteria feed. It’s the bacteria that lead to cavities and tooth decay.

Appointments with the surgeon at least twice a year are also important to check on anything that you might be missing like a buildup of plaque or decay. Their specialist equipment such as x rays can help them see things that you can’t. It gives a good opportunity to be reminded of other good oral hygiene practices. Following this routine will put you on a path to maintain good oral health. So what can you do to make sure that you brush your teeth every day?

GET INTO THE HABIT OF TEETH BRUSHING

Forming a habit of brushing your teeth can help you to do so on a regular basis. This is essential if you want to maintain good dental health. So how can you create the habit to brush?

Get into a routine. There are many things that you likely do by routine. Just think about the order of things you do when you get up or go to bed. Tooth brushing can be part of this routine and we only need to find at least two times a day to do it. Once it becomes a habit, you will almost brush your teeth automatically.

Set an alert on your phone. Setting an alert two times a day, once in the morning, and once in the evening at approximately a time that’s convenient to brush your teeth will serve as a good reminder. Be sure to brush your teeth right away, otherwise, you could forget.

Remind yourself visually. What we don’t see, we often forget. So, place your toothbrush in a place where you’ll see it.

Create a plan B. Despite your best efforts, there may be times that you still forget to brush your teeth. So, create a plan B. Carrying a travel toothbrush and toothpaste enables you to brush your teeth on the move. Chewing gum can help but it doesn’t remove plaque like brushing does.

WHAT IF MY TEETH ARE ALREADY DECAYED?

You could be at serious risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease if you don’t maintain the habit of brushing your teeth twice a day. This can often lead to tooth loss. If you have teeth that have decayed beyond repair then you may need to have them extracted. Gum disease may even cause them to become loose and fall out. However, if this does happen, all is not lost.

Oral surgery can correct the problem. Services provided by the surgeons at Bay Area OSM can help. They offer extractions for teeth that have decayed beyond repair. They can also replace missing teeth with dental implants. People often choose them over other teeth replacement options as they mimic real teeth.