Easter is right around the corner. For most people that means going to church and also buying tons of candy for baskets or just because they can. I know it is really fun, but it is also a killer time for your dental health. What inevitably will happen is that most Americans will end up eating and drinking more than normal. With the many different holidays happening, most will end up eating mroe seasonal sweets and treats. This means that for many Americans their teeth are going to be attacked much more than any other time of the year. This could mean higher dental bills because of complications brought on by the excess sugar and acidic drinks and treats that are consumed. So that is why I wanted to map out some of the best practices for dental hygiene during this time of year. Tooth decay flat out sucks and a whole lot of us need to work on a better routine to beat it. So, that is what I want to cover today.
If you do not have a good routine then you need to work on it. It is the key to being healthy and fighting tooth decay. The majority of Americans actually only brush their teeth once a day. We have been told to do it more than that, but when it comes to an average workweek and when things get busy, one brushing is what actually happens. And the usual amount of time spent on those brushings is always less than a minute. That means that not only are Americans doing half the work but they are spending a quarter of the time on their teeth that they should on top of that. Already if this sounds like you, think about making a new habit for the next few months. We all know a small gain here can be fewer trips to the dentist next year.
The ADA’s recommendation is really worthwhile and it says getting two brushings in per day and spending at least 2 minutes on each brushing. That is a big deal and can really cut back on lots of dental issues by simply keeping your mouth clean. I highly suggest making this a habit. If you struggle with it use your cell phone to set an alarm for the brushing during the day you are missing. It is pretty simple and set it to happen every day for about a month. Jump on in and if you do it right, you can be totally on your way to better teeth by the end of April.
The goal of dental health surprisingly is to also make sure you are staying hydrated during these times of extra indulgence. If you are able to drink water and do so right after eating or drinking bad things you can increase your dental health. Simply put you are rinsing the bad plaque-causing stuff away. This allows you to fight the plaque and possible tooth decaying substances right away and it also helps you to build up your body’s natural mouthwash, saliva. If you stay hydrated your body will continue to produce the right amount of saliva on average and it will keep cleaning your mouth as well. So by taking a drink of water or after a glass of your favorite beverage switching to a glass of water can keep you in tip-top shape. May your Easter be fun and a little more healthy this year.
Oral Pathology Info 