Brush up on your dental health with these foolproof fixes
Funny
how National Dental Hygiene Month falls at the same time as Halloween.
The annual candy blitz, as you well know, is not the greatest news for
growing, or grown-up, teeth. But never fear! You can still have a few
treats – as long as you know the right tricks.
"Only a ghoul's
gonna keep candy from kids," says Richard Price, a spokesman for the
American Dental Association and retired Newton, Mass.-based dentist.
Plus, the occasional indulgence is less of an issue than frequent
consumption, he says. But you can minimize the damage by encouraging
kids to avoid the gummy foods that stick to the teeth and give plaque
fertile ground. Following the same principle, let your kids eat their
treats after they've brushed their teeth, which removes food particles
that can mix with sugar to produce plaque. (And it's doesn't hurt to
brush a second time after the treat is consumed.)
The key,
whether it's Halloween or anytime of the year, is to keep your teeth and
mouth clean. "All dental disease is preventable," Price says. To brush
up on your dental health, follow these four principles:
1. Brush
and floss your teeth. Aim for a "nice, gentle 90-degree angle to the
gum," says Kevin Sands, a Beverly Hills, Calif. dentist whose clients
include the Kardashians, Miley Cyrus and Robert Downey Jr. (They're
pictured on his website.) Brushing too hard can wear down the enamel and
cause gum irritation, says Sands, who recommends the Sonicare brand of
electric brushes. "If you're flossing your teeth and brushing, you're
removing that debris that things can stick to," which leads to staining
as well as plaque, Sands says.
Find a toothbrush that suits you,
says Price, who likens the process to selecting dinnerware. "If it's
comfortable in your hand, you'll use it very nicely." So if your mouth
is small, you might want to consider a child-size toothbrush, he says.
And whether it's a toothbrush or toothpaste, look for the ADA
endorsement on the package, which will indicate the bristles are strong
enough to remove plaque and that the toothpaste does what it claims to
do.
2. Beware of bleeding. Your gums are skin, only wet skin, as
Price explains. Just as you should care for a scraped knee to prevent
bacteria from causing an infection, you should exercise caution with
bleeding gums. "If there's bleeding, there's a hole in the skin; if
there's a hole in the skin, bugs are going to get in," he says. Bacteria
can enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation, which has been linked
to a host of maladies. Gum disease, Price notes, has been associated
with heart disease, low-weight premature babies and Alzheimer's disease
and dementia. "The shin bone's connected to the knee bone, etc. ... The
mouth and gums are part of the body – it's not an isolated little thing
sitting in outer space." Diabetics are even more vulnerable to the
effects of gum disease and should take extra precautions to exercise
oral health care.
3. Show some respect. Ice cubes require special
blades for grinding in a blender, so don't chew them with your teeth,
Price says. The cold temperature alone causes enamel to contract. And
don't use your teeth to tear off plastic tags, either. "Teeth are not
portable pliers," he says. "Treat your teeth with a little respect." Nix
the nail biting, too. It erodes enamel and puts pressure on your front
teeth, which can aggravate the jaw muscles and cause a gap in teeth as
well, Sands says.
4. Lead a healthy lifestyle. Sugary foods like
soda aren't just tough on your waistline – they can erode your enamel.
In addition to proper hygiene, dental health relies on exercise and a
healthy diet that's low in salt and fat and high in fiber, Price says.
"Nothing sexy, but it works."
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