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Five Dental Secrets Everyone Should Know

Five Dental Secrets Everyone Should Know

Hey Segun, where are you heading to? There’s free dental check in town, it ends today. “Will they make my teeth snow white? I chew on bones and open bottles with my teeth!” Segun said  


Does this sound familiar? It probably does, but only shows how little we know about our teeth. First, your teeth are neither created snow white nor invincible—teeth get cracked. You can break, dissolve, or abrade them… and they move too! It’s good to know these and other dental secrets…..  

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Spend more time brushing your teeth  

This may sound like another “pain in your tooth” but the amount of time you spend brushing does matter. Spending a few seconds or a minute brushing may not take off all the plaques that have spent the last eight hours building up in your mouth; and if you brush your teeth just once a day, that’s a while lot of plaques to take off – and brushing for 30 seconds won’t cut it, literally. Set a plan to brush at least two minutes each time.   

Brush No Less than Twice a Day  

You think brushing once a day is a big deal, right? Well, even that is inadequate. Dentists say to brush twice a day and they mean it. This is because after each meal, some food particles get stuck between and in your teeth and bacteria begins to act on them, forming plaques and tartar that are difficult to remove. The longer the time to your next tooth brushing, the firmer these hard substances attach to your teeth and the more they cause former damage to your teeth. 

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Chewing gum can be good for your teeth  

I know what you’re thinking: either it’s time to go get that pack of gums you’ve always loved or we don’t know what we’re talking about. Sugar-free gums can be good for your teeth and gums. Here’s why: these gums contain a sweetener called xylitol, which rids the mouth of bad bacteria. Further, these gums help boost flow of saliva in your mouth, which cleanse your mouth of bacteria and other harmful particles.   

Your teeth are not invincible bone crackers   

Many people live under the illusion of having Superman teeth—they chew on bone, and turn their teeth into bottle openers. This is tooth abuse! Teeth are not invincible—simple. We can chip them off, they can develop tiny invisible cracks, and we can break them in two. The tricky part is, you may already have those invisible tooth cracks and may feel nothing until the unimaginable happens! A quick dental check may be all it takes to redeem the situation—visit the dentist today.  


 

You’ve used your toothbrush for too long  

Well, maybe not you, but if you have used your toothbrush for more than three months, we’re definitely talking to you. May be you are waiting for your next 6-month appointment to get them changed or just changed it a month ago but had some infection in your mouth, either way, it’s been too long. Change your toothbrush every three months or replace them after some mouth or tooth infection. This is because toothbrushes harbor bacteria, which could multiply if kept for longer.   

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Your teeth are very delicate structures, even though they appear as hard as a rock. Take good care of them by visiting your dentists regularly and keeping note of healthy and unhealthy habits that affect them.