How to get someone to brush their teeth
If you need advice on how to persuade someone to brush their teeth, we’re here for you. It’s an unfortunate reality that good oral hygiene isn’t a priority for everyone. For many, however, years of bad oral hygiene habits formed as a child can carry over into adult life. But, worry not! It’s not too late to help someone change those unhealthy habits. Here are some tips and tricks that may help you get someone you care about to brush their teeth.
Explain the risks of poor dental hygiene
Lack of good, consistent dental hygiene comes with several health risks and you should let your friend or loved one know about them. From bad breath to tooth decay to gum disease, explain to them that they are at risk for damaging their smile and impacting their health if they don’t start brushing! A quick internet search or a conversation with your dentist will help you equip yourself with information about dental health to pass along to your friend or loved one.
Be a good example!
Perhaps you can inspire others to brush their teeth if you set out to be a perfect example of oral care. Brush and floss your teeth on a regular basis and try dropping hints about a new toothbrush or mouthwash you really like. It’s more subtle but it may be just what your friend needs to feel motivated to follow suit.
How can I better prevent dental problems?
It’s never too late to take control of your oral health and prevent dental problems. Here are a few simple steps you can follow to better prevent dental issues.
Know your baseline — and know your risk level
The first step in taking control of your dental health is to know your current level of health and knowing what your cavity risk level is. The best way to know this is through a comprehensive dental exam and by scheduling regular examinations. If you have cavities or your dentist sees an increased risk of oral health issues, you can take a more specific, effective approach and get a head start on treatment and preventative options.
Good oral hygiene
This one is obvious but there are some details to remember. For one, brush your teeth at least twice a day for at least two minutes. You also want to avoid brushing too hard, as that can damage the enamel of your teeth or injure your gums. If you damage your gums, the tissue can become weak and allow bacteria to get into your teeth. If you’re curious about the best type of toothbrush for you, check out our information on electric versus manual options.
How Often Should I Really Floss?
You’ve been told most of your life about the importance of brushing your teeth at least twice a day. But what about flossing? Just how often should you be doing it — really?
Flossing cleans between your teeth and along your gum line. And while flossing can often feel like a chore, it really is essential to your dental health. It helps get to those hard-to-reach places in between your teeth and your gum line, which is prime real estate for plaque buildup. If plaque isn't removed from these areas, it builds up and eventually hardens, resulting in a substance called tartar. And tartar buildup can lead to gum disease or health oral health issues.
Here's everything you need to know to establish a healthy flossing routine.
How often?
It’s recommended that you floss every time you brush your teeth, but at least once a day. Keep in mind that quality is more important than quantity — flossing one time well is much better than not-so-great flossing three times a day.
Problems caused by a chipped tooth
A chipped tooth is a common occurrence for adults and children and it’s actually quite easy to do. Most commonly caused by an accident, trauma, or biting on something too hard, a chipped tooth can also be caused by dental conditions like tooth decay or teeth grinding. If you’ve recently chipped a tooth, it’s important to know about the potential problems it can cause, as well as ways to avoid one in the future.
Problems caused by a chipped tooth
Smaller chips are usually not problematic unless they are sharp and could possibly cut the inside of your mouth or lip. However, even a small chip can grow bigger and cause more complex issues down the road. If a chip is already significant in size or depth, it can lead to more serious problems such as severe pain, temperature sensitivity, swollen glands, and infections.
Should you get a chipped tooth repaired?
Generally speaking, yes, you should get a chipped tooth repaired. For minor chips, the dentist may only need to fill in the chip with a filling that matches your tooth or smooth the rough edges. More significant chips that don’t damage the root or pulp may require a crown to protect the tooth from future infections, while more severe chips that have compromised your dental pulp will likely require a root canal.
Get Your Best Smile with SureSmile® Aligners
Orthodontic treatment with SureSmile® Aligners can help you achieve your dream smile faster and easier than you ever imagined. SureSmile® is a method for straightening teeth by combining aspects of traditional braces with modern technology through the process of wearing a series of clear, custom-fit removable molds.
Here are a few more reasons to get your best smile with SureSmile®.
Fully customized for YOU
The SureSmile® Aligners system is designed so your dentist can have incredibly precise control over the way your teeth shift and realign using top-of-the-line digital software. There are also options to add additional attachments should your alignment issue be a little more complex!
Smart, effective design
SureSmile® Aligners are made from a premium plastic material that makes them virtually invisible! Your aligners are only compatible with the most modern computer-aided design and manufacturing software so that you can be confident you’re getting highly accurate, effective, and comfortable treatment.
At what age should your child start seeing the dentist?
According to the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, your child’s first dental visit should be within six months of the first tooth appearing, but no later than age two. At these early appointments, your dentist can answer any questions you may have and give you information on a variety of topics, including infant feeding, teething, pacifier usage, finger-sucking habits, and early dental care.
Even if you feel like your child is too young for the dentist, it’s important to know that the best way to ease fear and anxiety about the dentist is to get your child comfortable at an early age. Exposure builds trust and comfort. If it makes you feel more at ease, try bringing them along to one of your dentist appointments first and check out our tips on easing dental anxiety in children.
What to expect at your child’s first appointment
Your child’s first appointment will most likely be about introducing them to the dental office and staff members, as well as learning the basics about caring for their teeth. Typically, dentists will not do an actual exam on the first visit but they may take a quick look inside your child’s mouth to ensure all the teeth are coming in properly and to assess their bite. If possible or necessary, a quick cleaning may also be done.
What's the Difference Between Veneers and Bonding?
Don’t have perfect teeth? You’re definitely not alone! Whether it’s a chipped tooth, discoloration, misalignment, or gaps, there are treatment options for a variety of cosmetic dental concerns. Two popular choices are dental bonding and porcelain veneers. While they treat similar cosmetic issues, there are a few distinct differences between veneers and bonding.
If you’re considering either of these options, it can be helpful to know more about these treatments and see how they compare.
What cosmetic issues do they address?
Both procedures can address many of the same cosmetic issues. However, veneers may be a better option for improving more pronounced concerns, like discoloration, irregularly shaped teeth, and gaps. Dentists often recommend veneers when multiple teeth are affected. Bonding, on the other hand, is most typically used for smaller changes that don’t require covering the entire tooth, like a chipped or cracked tooth.
The Smile-Inducing Benefits of Dentures
Dentures are removable artificial teeth that can come in two forms: partials or completes. Just like the name sounds, partial dentures cover only a portion of missing teeth with other natural teeth present in the mouth. A complete denture set covers the entire mouth that no longer has any natural teeth present. Dentures are a great way for individuals with missing teeth to restore a beautiful, natural-looking smile!
Other benefits of dentures include:
Increased self-esteem. People with missing teeth can often feel embarrassed or ashamed of their appearance. After all, your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. But a benefit of dentures is a beautiful, pearly-white smile that makes you feel confident, self-assured, and ready for your close-up!
Improved quality of life, including improved eating and speech. Dentures support your facial muscles, allowing you to be able to eat foods you weren’t able to eat when you had damaged or missing teeth. With a bit of practice in your new dentures, you should be able to chew tougher foods like meat, caramel, crunchy fruit, and everything in between. Support from dentures can also improve your speech. If certain words are difficult to enunciate with missing teeth, dentures can help you to enunciate your letters and words better and restore your usual manner of speaking.
Gum Health 101
When we think of oral health, we tend to only think of our teeth. But that’s not the whole story. Your gums are the foundation of a healthy smile and they protect your teeth (and their nerves and roots) and the bones of your jaw. Gum health is a critical part of your oral health and can even play a significant role in your overall health as chronic gum inflammation is thought to be linked with other diseases, including respiratory disease, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and stroke.
Practicing good oral hygiene is the most important thing you can do to prevent and treat issues with your gums. If you aren’t brushing or flossing enough, plaque can build up on your teeth and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Signs and symptoms of gingivitis include:
- Swollen or puffy gums, usually dark red in color
- Gums that bleed easily when you brush or floss
- Bad breath
- Receding gums
- Tender gums
How to Know if You Need a Root Canal
Root canals are used to repair and save teeth that have become badly decayed or infected. When the pulp of the tooth, which is made up of blood vessels and nerves, is damaged, it needs to be removed and the inside of the tooth will be cleaned, filled, and sealed. Physical symptoms don’t typically start until the problem has become more advanced, so it’s important to be aware of some signs of possible trouble. Here are 5 signs that you may need a root canal:
Persistent or excessive pain. Pain is one of the biggest indicators that something is wrong with the root of your tooth. If it hurts when you put pressure on your tooth and if this pain has lasted for weeks or months without improvement, a root canal might be in your future. Prolonged tooth discomfort is typically due to a damaged root and these don’t heal on their own.
Chipped or cracked tooth. When a tooth gets cracked or chipped, it can expose the nerves beneath the surface of the tooth, which can lead to an infection. This infection, if not treated by a root canal, can enter the bloodstream and spread, potentially causing more widespread issues.
Sensitivity. If you’re noticing that a tooth is becoming increasingly sensitive while eating or drinking, especially hot or cold items, damaged blood vessels and nerve endings may be to blame. A root canal may be in order!
Food and Drinks That Cause Teeth Erosion
When most people think of foods that are bad for their teeth, they think of sugar. Our childhoods were filled with warnings about what eating too much candy could do to our teeth. But sweets, unfortunately, aren’t the only culprit. Many foods and beverages, especially ones that are highly acidic, can wear down the enamel that protects your teeth, a process known as tooth erosion. When the enamel wears away, it exposes an underlying material called dentin and leaves your teeth vulnerable to plaque and bacteria, which cause decay.
To better protect your enamel, try to avoid or limit the foods below.
Sticky candies and sweets.
We’ll start with the obvious. Even though sugar itself does not contain high levels of acidity, it promotes the growth of acid-creating bacteria in your mouth. And sticky treats can get stuck on your teeth for longer and cause even more decay. Also, keep in mind that sour candies are even worse for your teeth due to their high acidity level.