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1. Brush your teeth as soon after eating as possible - even after snacking. This will keep small food particles from becoming giant feasts for unwanted bacteria. If you have time, brush a full two minutes. You can try dividing your teeth into quadrants and spend at least 30 seconds on each quadrant. Angle the bristles and gently insert and clean underneath the gum line while you brush. Ask the professionals at TMJ Dentistry if you need tips on how to do this. 2. Once you have chosen a good dentifrice, stick with it. You don’t need a lot of it, and when the mouth fills with foam, many people will spit it out and consider themselves finished brushing. There are a lot of toothpastes and powders that claim to be the best whitener or the most natural. Try a powder with a good mixture of baking soda and flavoring - you may never use pastes again. You won’t need the added fluoride that comes from pastes if you keep to a strict hygiene routine. You will be surprised how clean your teeth feel after using a baking soda-based powder. 3. Brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper. Why do a great job on your teeth only to have them come in immediate contact with the microbes living on the surface of your tongue? Your breath will also smell a lot better. 4. Floss at least once a day. Flossing further cleans and removes plaque and bacteria where your toothbrush cannot reach. 5. Learn how to irrigate the teeth and gums and do it daily. Irrigating helps remove food particles that get trapped below the gum line. New irrigators can now be attached right to your faucet or shower outlet allowing you to clean your teeth while you do the rest of your body. 6. Irrigate deep pockets with a cannula tip and good antimicrobial solution. If you have pockets forming between your teeth and gums, this is one of the best steps you can take to prevent tooth decay. 7. See your dental professionals at TMJ Dentistry regularly. Listen to your hygienist when she tells you about a problem area and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Be on time for your appointments. Talk to your dentist about ‘periodontal anti-infective therapy’ involving home irrigation and antimicrobial solutions. This is cutting edge science and a little effort on your part might keep you away from an expensive ‘specialist.’ 8. Just because your teeth are white does not necessarily mean they are healthy. While your biggest concern right now may be your smile, make sure that smile will be there, in good shape, years from now. Tooth whitening is tremendously popular today and many companies are catering to the market. While tooth whiteners remove staining, to some degree, they do not necessarily do the cleaning job required by your other efforts. 9. Nutrition is half the battle. The body cares for itself as long as conditions are right, and as everything else in the body requires good nutrition, the teeth and gums are no exception. Staying away from sugar is fine, but don’t forget carbohydrates; cakes, breads, chips, etc. Vitamin C has long been known as important for healthy gums and a good colloidal mineral supplement will provide the calcium and phosphorus your teeth need. Your strong autoimmune system is one of your best defenses against poor oral health and GOOD food is your best source of essential vitamins & minerals. 10. Finally, allow the time, use the time, and be on time. These are YOUR teeth. How you care for them will determine how they will care for you down the road. Taking care of your teeth could even save your life one day.
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