It's National Children's Dental Health Month, and your kids may be learning all about the mouth at school. What do you know about your teeth and pregnancy, baby teeth, and how to help your lil ones have the best dental hygiene? Take our quiz on dental health to see!
Take the Quiz
Regular use of mouthwash is a great habit to get into for continued dental health, but my dentist said something that struck me strange last time I visited. He instructed me to use mouthwash before I brushed, not after. "Before?" I asked. "Are you sure?"
Yes, my dentist was sure. He explained that rinsing before you brush loosens food particles and buildup, making brushing even more effective. There's even a market for the stuff, dubbed "prerinse." If you're a mouthwash-aholic like I am, though, it's best to choose a brand (like Crest Pro-Health) with little to no alcohol content since the alcohol can have a drying effect on your mouth.
The only downside of the pre- and post-rinse: I still love that just-rinsed feeling after brushing, so I end up using mouthwash both before and after I brush my teeth — which means going through twice as much mouthwash.
Dental hygiene is really an everyday kind of activity. Or rather, a twice a day activity when it comes to brushing. Flossing, on the other hand, is easy to let fall by the wayside.
When you slack on taking care of your gums regularly, your dentist will certainly scold you. Mine did many years ago, and her cautionary tale inspired me to floss regularly. However, I have noticed that my husband "crams" before going to the dentist, just like we both did before college exams. About two weeks before his dental appointment, he suddenly begins flossing twice a day and using special very medicinal smelling (read: unsexy) mouthwash. After he's seen the dentist, his avid flossing goes out the window for another five and a half months.
What about you . . .
Sometimes while watching a red carpet event, I am blinded by how dazzling (read: blinding) a celeb's smile can look. I'm thinking they must be doing a little more than the occasional white strip I do myself. Well, according to Blake Lively's dentist Dr. Laura Torrado, it takes more than brushing and flossing to achieve a movie star smile. Torrado recently shared with Us Weekly a few tricks of the trade to get your teeth healthy and beautiful.
See the rest of the tips when you read more
Do you dread going to the dentist? I know I do! There's not much pleasant about the experience, from sitting in a chair in an uncomfortable position, to the pain often associated with dental procedures, to the pain associated with paying through the nose for the pain — even after insurance! My own dental phobia comes from years of orthodontic work as a kid; I have this crazy memory of the orthodontist announcing that I had "one of the worst mouths he's ever seen." And even though I've had no major problems and I know that regular checkups are vital for dental health, I avoid them, make excuses, and whine and complain every time I have to go.
Here are a few ways to help you relax and make it through your next appointment:
For the rest of my suggestions, keep reading
While getting my teeth cleaned the other day, my dentist asked me if I brush twice a day. "Of course. Ever since I was a kid," was my response. But she said that I should bring a toothbrush and toothpaste to work and brush after every meal, three times a day. She added that if I had time, I should brush after snacks and beverages like coffee, too. I know that means a lot of time spent at the bathroom sink, but if you have issues with cavities or bad breath, give my dentist's advice a try. Be sure to use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in a circular motion so you don't irritate your gums.
How many times a day do you brush?
For many of us, going to the dentist can be an absolute nightmare. I don't know anyone who likes to go, except my girls — they think the cleaning tickles and they have yet to need a filling. The worst part for me is finding out I have a cavity, because that means I'll have to deal with the painful poking novocaine shot. I guess I'd rather deal with the dentist, though, than lose my teeth.
Sometimes talking about our fears and what we hate can make us feel better, so tell me . . .
Many toothpaste makers also sell over-the-counter teeth whitening strips to help make your smile dazzle. If you have severe discoloration, these strips may not give you the results you're after. That's when professional teeth whitening may cross your mind, so here are some things you should know.
Your teeth are equipped with an enamel surface that's designed to protect your teeth from the effects of coffee, smoking, wine, and aging. Over the years though, your enamel begins to wear down so it becomes more transparent, and the yellowish color of dentin (your tooth's core) begins to show through. Also with time, tiny cracks form in the enamel that allows debris and stains to sink in, which adds to the dull, grayish color.
When you have your teeth professionally whitened, the stains and debris are removed but the cracks will still remain. That means eventually your teeth will need to be whitened again to get that same desired white smile. People choose this option instead of over-the-counter whitening products because dentists have access to high-concentration peroxide gel, so you can achieve better results in a shorter amount of time. To find out what the risks of teeth whitening are read more
I went to the dentist the other day for a cleaning, and she asked me if I use mouthwash that contains fluoride. I shook my head and said, "My toothpaste has fluoride in it, isn't that enough?" She didn't think so and clinical studies show that by using both a fluoride mouthwash and a fluoride toothpaste, it can provide extra protection against tooth decay more than if you use fluoride toothpaste on its own. Fluoride can prevent cavities in two ways. It strengthens the protective layer of enamel on your teeth, so it can better resist cavities. It can also reverse low levels of tooth decay and remineralize soft spots on your teeth, which can prevent new cavities from cropping up.
What about fluoride being added to public water? To find out read more
