Oral health is important to you, but you’re not quite sure what you could be doing better to improve yours. After all, you brush your teeth at least once a day. Shouldn’t that be enough? Your dentist in Boiling Springs says, unfortunately, that doesn’t provide enough frequency to rid your mouth of the harmful bacteria that lead to tooth decay and a host of other oral problems. As you continue reading, he’ll go into detail about how often you should be brushing daily and the importance of oral hygiene in your dental health.
How Often Should I Brush My Teeth Daily?
You should brush your teeth at least two times a day – in the morning after rising and at night before retiring for bed.
Here’s why it’s important to brush at these times:
- Morning Brushing – While sleeping, a host of bacteria develop in your mouth, evidence of which is morning breath. Thus, it is vital to clean your mouth, teeth and gums thoroughly to rid them of these critters, leaving you with fresh breath and a clean oral cavity.
- Evening Brushing – Brushing at night will remove any leftover food particles that would otherwise attract bacteria as you sleep. This is vital in your fight against tooth decay because overnight your mouth is like a sealed vault, allowing bacteria to grow in a dark, warm space – something they love.
Take note, though, that these are minimum requirements. The best practice is to brush after every meal. This type of frequency can be very upsetting to the agenda of harmful bacteria, which is to feed, grow and attack your teeth and gums.
What are the Dangers of Harmful Bacteria Growth?
Not all bacteria are bad, but a balance must be maintained within your mouth to ensure a state of wellness.
Here are some of the dangers of allowing bacteria growth to get out of control:
- Plaque and Tartar Buildup – As bacteria accumulate, over 300 of them come together to form an even greater problem called plaque, which is a sticky film. This new amalgam releases acids that bore into your teeth. Over time, the film can harden and calcify into tartar, preventing you from removing the troublesome bacteria from your teeth.
- Cavities – One of the results of the above developments is a cavity. It’s the effect of acidic bacteria penetrating the enamel – the hard, outer surface of your teeth.
- Gum Disease – A dreadful trait of bacteria is that they don’t stop on their own. Thus, what may have originally seemed as a harmless cavity, untreated, will lead to gum disease, the inflammation of the gums due to infection. Once your soft tissues are inflamed, you’ll notice bleeding, puffiness, irritation and a bad taste in your mouth as the condition worsens. Untreated, it can cause tooth loss and lead to other health issues like heart attack.
But let’s not forget that all of the above problems are preventable by using your toothbrush more often, flossing at least twice a day and visiting your dentist for regular cleanings and checkups. Excellent oral health is available to everyone, so contact your Boiling Springs dentist today to schedule your first appointment!
About the Author
Dr. Thomas Neslund earned his DMD degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in 1990. Over the next 28 years he would go on to deliver the highest standard of care to his patients, infusing excitement into each person about his or her oral health. He practices at Carlisle Family & Cosmetic Dentistry and can be reached for more information through his website.