Many people believe that mouthwash alone makes enough of a difference in keeping your mouth clean. The truth is, though, that brushing twice a day and flossing once a day are vital when it comes to getting all of the food and plaque out of your mouth. Without that physical cleaning, bacteria can develop over time.

If you notice a twinge of pain in one or more of your teeth, make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. These twinges are indicative of a crack or chip in the enamel, and are more common in people where fluoridated water is not common. It is so important to address the problem quickly because even a repair will not restore the enamel to its original strength. The longer you wait, the more likely it will be that you need a root canal or further intervention.

It is important that you get rid of your toothbrush about every two to three months. Eventually, the bristles on a toothbrush grow weak from over-useage. This prevents the toothbrush from actually cleaning your teeth and can actually cause damage to your gums. Also, if you’re sick, get a new toothbrush once you are better.

Time how long you brush your teeth. You should in fact spend no less than two full minutes doing it. Make sure that you brush the outside, inside and tops or bottoms of every tooth. Also make sure that you brush underneath or above both of your gumlines too.

You can use hydrogen peroxide to whiten your teeth. Dip your brush into a little bit of hydrogen peroxide. Brush gently and don’t get the brush near the gums for around two minutes. When you finish brushing with hydrogen peroxide, brush again with regular toothpaste.

Very young kids are often very scared of dentist visits. Ease their fears and explain to them that a dentist in fayetteville ar is there for their benefit. If your child is nervous about visiting the dentist, make the effort to seek out a pediatric dentist whose specialty is treating children.

Did you know that the sequence that you eat your foods in can play a role in whether or not you develop cavities? Eating sugary foods such as cake alone is much worse for your teeth, than if you eat the cake after a meal. Don’t eat sugary foods alone, always eat them with other foods.

When someone close to you has poor dental care habits, it can be an uncomfortable topic to bring up. A great way to drop hints is to tell your friend about a great new toothpaste you are using. You can pick them up whitening strips and tell them you got a deal on buy one get one free. They will be touched that you thought of them, rather than insulted.

Use an electric toothbrush. Not only do these brushes help keep your teeth cleaner; they are a lot of fun to use, at least compared to a normal toothbrush. This will help you make your brushing into more of a habit. Plus, they are easier to clean and will last a long time!

Replace your toothbrush every three months. The bristles on your toothbrush, no matter how much you clean them, wear out over time. They lose their cleaning effectiveness after a few months. Do yourself (and your mouth) a favor and have a replacement handy when you hit that 90 day mark.

Some people believe they can use lemon or vinegar to get their teeth whiter. This is not true, and will only cause damage to the enamel of your teeth with these harmful acids. The enamel can become damaged and cause more stains and even cavities.

Although this is likely common knowledge to you, you should always brush your teeth a minimum of two times each day. However, it is important that you are brushing with a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Make sure you brush in a circular motion on each tooth, and avoid brushing too hard because this can damage your gums.

Make sure that you clean your tongue. Many people neglect this important step, but if you don’t keep your tongue clean, it will just collect bacteria. This bacteria tends to be the main culprit of bad breath. Try using a tongue scraper every day to remove plaque and to freshen breath. The scraper is more effective at getting the tongue clean than a toothbrush.

You should use some mouthwash prior to brushing. This can be done to soften plaque in your mouth. This makes brushing more effective. This habit will lead to much cleaner teeth.

When you brush your teeth do not use a hard bristle brush and do not brush too hard. You can damage the gum tissue by brushing too enthusiastically near the gum line, and this can lead to receding gums. Your dentist can show you the proper way to brush and how often you should brush.

Many dentists recommend an electric toothbrush for all of their patients, mostly because they work so well without having to brush vigorously. The job can be done more quickly, and the head of the brush is small so it can get into all places. In the end, they just do a better job.

Electric toothbrush heads also need replacing about every two months. Bristles get soft and less effective. The brush also becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, which can threaten your health, damage your teeth and gums, and is just flat-out disgusting.

Make a commitment to dental care a family experience. It’s not only you that can benefit from proper dental care. Your entire family can take their health to a whole new level here. Talk about dental care and challenge each other to follow through. Even brush teeth together as a way to get into the habit!

If you want your teeth to look their whitest, a good tan helps. Of course, the sun ages the skin, so you want avoid tanning beds or excessive sun exposure. Try a good bronzer to avoid harmful UV rays. Tan skin helps white teeth pop as well as the eyes.

Now that you have read through these helpful tips, you should be able to better select a dentist and make better decisions about procedures. You don’t just want someone else making the decisions for you. You want to be educated about everything, and now you can make those decisions.