Five Essential Preventive Dentistry Tips By Byron J Nordhus D.D.S. on November 14, 2016

A woman smiling in a mirror, her teeth clean and healthy Restorative dentistry has come a long way over the years, to the point that it is possible to return even a badly damaged mouth to near optimal health, beauty, and function. Ultimately, however, there is no replacement for a mouth full of healthy, intact teeth. The best way to ensure a lifetime of good oral health and beautiful smiles is to practice excellent oral hygiene at home and visit the dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings and thorough oral exams as recommended by the American Dental Association. When it comes to dentistry, the old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is absolutely true.

It is never too early or too late to take proactive measures to preserve the health of your teeth and gums. If you are in great oral health, this is the perfect time to start. If you require dental treatment, now is the time to seek it out and then take steps to prevent further damage. Dr. Byron Nordhus offers preventive dentistry tips to his patients during their appointments at his Wichita, KS practice, and he is pleased to offer five of these tips to you right now.

Five Preventive Dentistry Tips to Help Keep Your Mouth in Great Shape

These are just a few of the preventive dentistry tips that Dr. Nordhus offers to his patients. He would welcome the opportunity to provide you with further advice during a private, one-on-one consultation at his state-of-the-art dental office.

Be gentle with your teeth: Many people believe that they are able to remove more plaque and bacteria from their teeth if they put a little extra gusto into their toothbrushing routine. In truth, however, they may actually be harming their teeth. Among people who are otherwise in good dental health, most cases of enamel erosion can be attributed to improper toothbrushing. You can remove just as much plaque by using gentle force with a soft-bristled toothbrush as you can by brushing vigorously.
Use a zig-zag pattern when you floss: You can remove far more debris from between your teeth by using a zig-zag pattern when you floss. Also, as with your toothbrush, be gentle with your floss to avoid accidentally wearing down your enamel.
Go ahead and drink that cup of coffee or tea: Yes, coffee and tea contain staining agents that can discolor your teeth. That’s why it is very important to brush your teeth regularly if you are a coffee or tea drinker. However, aside from their capacity to stain, coffee and tea may actually offer oral health benefits. Both contain antioxidants, which help to reduce inflammation in the mouth. Black tea also includes fluoride, while coffee includes an alkaloid called trigonelline, which helps to prevent bacteria from sticking to tooth enamel. Keep in mind that adding sugar and cream to coffee and tea will, at least in part, negate the positive effects these beverages have on oral health.
Change your toothbrush routinely: Don’t wait until your toothbrush becomes badly worn to replace it. By that point, the toothbrush has already not been doing its job, probably for months. You should replace your toothbrush at the first sign that its bristles are becoming frayed, which usually occurs every three to four months.
Don’t forget to brush your tongue: Your tongue can harbor bacteria just as surely as your teeth and gums. If you brush your teeth but neglect your tongue, the bacteria on the latter may simply spread to the former anyway, so be sure to brush that tongue!