Why Do We Brush Twice a Day?
March 16, 2017
You have probably heard your dentist say—on more than one occasion– that you should brush your teeth at least twice a day. However, you may not know why brushing two times daily is important. Here are a few reasons for this popular dental recommendation:
Plaque is continually produced.
When you eat, leftover bits of food mix with the bacteria inside your mouth to form plaque. The filmy, sticky substance coats your tooth enamel and gums. Although the development of plaque is a continual natural occurrence, the substance can cause a great bit of damage to your teeth.
Because plaque adheres to your teeth and gums, it places bacterial acid in direct contact with them. The bacteria within the plaque feast on the food particles in the mixture. As the microbes feed, they digest the food and release acid as a by-product. Since the acid is released adjacent to the tooth enamel, plaque can be highly damaging.
Just as acid is corrosive to most other substances, it also eats away at your enamel. This results in tooth decay. The longer the acid remains in place, the greater your chance of needing a dental appointment to fill a cavity. Twice-daily brushing removes the plaque before it can damage your pearly whites.
Brushing twice daily helps prevent tartar buildup.
Tartar is actually plaque that has calcified on the teeth. The hardening process that converts plaque into tartar takes about a day to complete. However, the conversion only takes place if plaque remains undisturbed. When you brush twice a day, plaque can be removed before it hardens into position.
While plaque is still soft, it can easily be brushed and flossed away. However, once it hardens, it remains in place until it is scraped away at your next dental cleaning. Why does this matter? Tartar not only makes your teeth look less attractive due to its yellow hue, but it also harbors additional plaque and oral bacteria to further compromise your oral health.
Although tartar may look completely solid, it is actually quite porous. It becomes a great hiding place for the substances that wreak havoc on your teeth.
Brushing twice a day helps prevent bad breath.
Bad breath that is not associated with the spicy taco or well-seasoned lasagna you had for dinner is often caused by volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). Anaerobic bacteria that reside on your tongue release these compounds regularly, giving morning breath its characteristics stale, sulfur-y smell.
When you brush your teeth, your tongue should also get a thorough cleaning. As the oral microbes are removed, your breath becomes fresher. In addition, the sweet aroma of your toothpaste will further enhance your breath, making embarrassing moments during social encounters a little less likely.
Brushing twice daily helps ensure that the microbes that may be contributing to your bad breath are removed before they build up to the point of causing your breath to be offensive. It also removes particles of food that may be stuck between your teeth. As the food remains in place, it can rot or deteriorate in your mouth, further exacerbating halitosis.
Brushing twice a day can keep your teeth whiter.
As you eat and drink, pigments are absorbed into the pores of your tooth enamel and can build up over time. The accumulation of pigments can discolor your teeth, necessitating a teeth-bleaching session. When you brush twice a day, you can help remove some of the pigments that have not been fully absorbed by your teeth.
If you brush with a whitening toothpaste, you can give your teeth an even greater chance of avoiding discoloration. Whitening toothpaste often includes ingredients, such as hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, to keep your teeth looking their best. Peroxide uses oxygenating power to help bleach away stains. Baking soda is alkaline and mildly abrasive, so it helps polish your teeth for a whitening boost.
Gum Health
Brushing twice daily also improves the health of your gums so that you can avoid gum disease. The acid that causes tooth decay irritates sensitive soft tissues in your mouth. The resulting inflammation can lead to gum disease.
If you are in the beginning stages of gum disease, you may only notice a bit of blood in the sink after you brush your teeth. However, periodontal issues can progress to the point of bone and tooth loss.
When you brush your teeth, you dilute the inflammatory acid and help rid your mouth of the bacteria that produce it.
For tips on proper brushing techniques or to learn ways to encourage your kids to brush twice daily, consult with our office.
Your Spring Teeth Cleaning
March 2, 2017
Children should start dental care early, so it’s important for parents to know the guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. According to these official guidelines, children need to see the dentist 6 months after their first tooth erupts. If this hasn’t happened by the time the child is 12 months old, the child should see the dentist at that point.
The First Dental Visit
During the first dental visit, the child and parents will spend a fairly short time in the office. This is the ideal opportunity for children and their parents to meet Dr. Davis in a calm atmosphere. Dr. Davis strives to set her young patients at ease and believes that this “getting to know you” visit is extremely helpful in establishing the dentist as a friend in the child’s eyes.
The First Tooth Visit
If the child’s first visit to Dr. Davis occurs when their first tooth erupts (or at 12 months old) there is a special system in place to make it easy on the baby and the parents. The baby will rest in the parent’s lap while Dr. Davis looks at the teeth and gums using a toothbrush and a mirror. She will then review her findings with the parent and give them recommendations for future dental care. Parents can then take this opportunity to ask questions and to learn more about oral hygiene for kids while the child plays in the lobby. Many parents say that the hardest part of the “first tooth” visit is prying their child away from the toys in the lobby Kid’s Zone.
How Dental Visits Work For Toddlers and Older Children
Children will first have access to a range of fun distractions in the lobby playroom, the “Kid’s Zone.” This is followed by a tour of the whole dentist’s office. The staff is trained to use child-friendly words and terminology. Parents should avoid using words like “hurt,” “needle,” “pinch,” “drill,” or any other word that can make the child fearful or worried. The child will “take a ride” in the dentist’s chair to bring them to the right position for the exam. “Mr. Tickle,” the teeth shining device, is then used on the young patient.
Dr. Davis will look for signs of tooth decay, alignment issues, and other possible issues within the mouth. If a teeth cleaning is needed, Dr. Davis or a dental hygienist will perform that cleaning with a gentle touch. If fluoride treatment is needed, it may be done immediately after the teeth cleaning.
Parents can come back to the exam room with their child, but in most cases it’s best for parents to stay hidden where the child can’t see them. There is a “peek-a-boo” area where parents can observe the child while they’re in the dental chair. Parents may have anxiety that is easily transferred to the child, and children have generally done better when they’re alone with the dentist or hygienist. This also allows a chance for the dental staff to get to know the child, which helps the young patient relax.
Dental Care at Home
Dr. Davis and her staff can provide parents with tips and tricks to help them establish better oral hygiene routines for their child. This usually includes brushing twice a day, two minutes per session. Flossing is also a critical part of good oral care and should begin early in life. Children can learn to brush their own teeth when they are still quite young, and if parents try to make it fun rather than a chore it will quickly become an ingrained habit. Some kids enjoy setting a timer for their brushing sessions. Non-food rewards like stickers can also be helpful as a child is settling into a personal dental care routine.
Dr. Maggie Davis is a pediatric dentist office in Palm Harbor, Florida. She offers regular check-up visits, consultations, emergency exams, digital x-rays, counseling on finger/pacifier sucking, counseling on tobacco & intraoral piercings, fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, interceptive orthodontics, comprehensive orthodontics, space maintenance, cosmetic tooth bonding, teeth whitening, and dentistry for children with special health care needs. Several kinds of sedation are offered, including nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and I.V. sedation. Call anytime to arrange an appointment with Dr. Davis.