Take care of your teeth! You won’t get a third set. The more diligently you take care of them, the healthier you will be. That is, poor dental health is a path to poor health in general. In Florida, Fort Lauderdale general dentistry works hard to ensure your oral health. But general dentistry can’t do the whole job. If your teeth are healthy, you can then think about the general look and beauty of your smile. In this case, you will need the help of Fort Lauderdale cosmetic dentistry. A cosmetic dentist can do many things to improve the look of your smile.
But the first thing you need to think about is your home care program. Just a good tooth-brushing morning and evening isn’t enough to keep your mouth healthy and your teeth in their sockets. This home care program must involve not only the teeth but also the gums. Unhealthy teeth have cavities, and unhealthy gums recede and bleed. Pockets form in the gums that retain bacteria that can cause bad breath and can often contribute to heart disease. And, after you start your care program, you need to follow it faithfully. No vacations from tooth care. The first fact of tooth care is that the healthy mouth doesn’t bleed. If there is a trail of pink in your sink when you brush your teeth, your gums aren’t completely healthy. The same is true of pain. Healthy teeth aren’t painful.
So how do we take care of our teeth? Of course, brushing is the first required activity. The only tools required for this step are a good toothbrush and a good toothpaste. A manual toothbrush is perfectly acceptable, as long as you replace it every few months. These days, multipurpose toothpastes are available from a number of different companies. These toothpastes have ingredients that fight cavities, decrease gingivitis (gum disease), whiten teeth, and freshen the breath. While a manual toothbrush is just fine, an electric one is even better. Electric toothbrushes accomplish the same purpose as a manual brush, only faster and more efficiently.
For gum care, the simplest and cheapest tool is dental floss. The cause of gum disease is the oral bacteria. But it’s more than just the bacteria. It’s that the bacteria form colonies, and it’s these colonies that are damaging. Flossing works by breaking up these colonies so that the bacteria becomes less harmful and can be washed away. An even more effective tool is the dental water jet device. These devices shoot pulses of high-pressure water along the gumline to break up and wash away the bacteria colonies.
After the teeth and gums have been thoroughly cleaned, the final step is a good rinse with a germ-killing mouthwash. Several brands are available, and all are equally effective at killing any bacteria that weren’t washed away.
If you take care of your teeth as described above every day, your teeth and gums will be as healthy as possible. However, an additional step is needed. You should visit the dentist twice a year for a professional cleaning and examination. Many people don’t look forward to the visit, but if you keep your teeth clean between visits and go twice a year, the teeth cleaning can be a pleasure.