5 facts you did not know about your teeth

You make use of your teeth to chew, talk, and smile. You even plan meals, play sports, and grab drinks without giving any thought to your pearly whites. It may not occur to you, but beverages, activities and food can damage the health of your teeth considerably. Twenty-five percent of senior Americans lose almost all their teeth due to bad habits. Here are a few interesting "teeth facts" you may be surprised to know.

Tooth enamel is considered to be the hardest substance inside a human body, but it is fragile:

Popcorn, ice, and lip/tongue piercings can lead to chipping of the teeth, and unlike skin our teeth cannot re-grow. A metal ring pierced across your lip is especially bad because every time you talk, the ring hits your teeth. This can lead to wear and tear and tooth fractures.  

You can have missing teeth at almost any age:

Did you know that there are people who are born with missing choppers? The most common missing teeth are the wisdom teeth. The second most common are the lateral incisors, located right next to the front tooth. Interestingly, there are a lot of people who inherit missing teeth.

Large quantities of fluoride is bad for your teeth:

Fluoride is essential for healthy teeth. However, children who ingest extreme amounts of this element when they’re developing permanent teeth can suffer from a condition called fluorosis. Normally, fluorosis starts out by creating white spots that eventually turn brown. Unfortunately, the stains caused by fluorosis are “intrinsic,” and cannot be polished off by the dentist.

To make sure your children don’t use excessive toothpaste, supervise them when they are brushing. Squeeze out a small quantity (pea-size amount) so that they do not swallow too much accidentally. You can also use a fluoride free paste for your kids until they are old enough to understand.

Braces can cause cavities:

Bacteria, food and acid stuck around dental braces can damage the enamel. They start to form cavities around the brackets. Even if the degeneration does not completely turn into a cavity, it can create “demineralization.” One of the best ways to prevent it is to make sure you visit your orthodontist for regular cleanings.

Sour is as bad as sweet:

Sweets are not the only villain that damage healthy teeth. Sour candies, fruit juices can soften teeth and make them prone to enamel erosion.

Your choppers play an important role in the overall health of your body. Hence, it is important to follow good habits and keep these facts in mind the next time you plan to indulge in some candy.  It is also a good idea to visit your dentist regularly. During a dental check-up, your expert can uncover several clues about the overall health of your body. For instance, if the enamel of your tooth is worn down, it could be a sign that you may be suffering from mental stress. Receding or swollen gums may be an early sign of diabetes, while sores that don’t heal can sometimes mean oral cancer. A little caution and care can go a long way in helping you live a healthy life.

5 habits that cause plaque

Plaque is a layer of dead and living bacteria that forms a sticky coating on your tooth. This dreaded enemy of the mouth is not only a nuisance, it can also lead to several oral problems. According to experts, excess plaque left on gum and teeth is directly linked to heart disease and diabetes. There are several bad habits that are responsible for such buildup.

Bad Habit 1: Improper brushing:

Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is the biggest deterrence to plaque. Using a specific technique isn’t important but making sure you brush all your teeth properly is essential. Remember, plaque is a lot like bees, a few might not hurt you but if they build a beehive in your front porch, you’ll have problems.   

If you find brushing difficult, consume a lot of crunchy fruits and vegetables. Apples, carrots, cucumbers, and several other raw veggies and fruits can scrub off plaque and help you keep your teeth healthy.

Bad Habit 2: Not flossing:

Your brush has its limitations especially when it comes to reaching the tiny gaps between your teeth. Flossing in-between your projections assists in clearing away plaque before the biofilm can do further damage. Flossing also helps to clean plaque at your gum line, in turn reducing the risk of gum disease.

In case flossing is difficult, you can also use other ADA-approved products for cleaning purposes. Most drug stores and supermarkets sell these products.

Bad Habit 3: Avoiding Mouth rinses:

Mouth rinses have tremendous effect on our oral health. They have been shown to stop decay. Antibacterial rinses also attack bad breath and reduce plaque. Using them along with flossing and brushing can turn out to be a good decision.

Bad Habit 4: Not going to the Dentist:

Even if you follow a strict cleaning routine, eliminating plaque entirely is impossible. Over a period of time this plaque hardens and becomes tartar that has to be removed at the dentist’s office. Unfortunately, a big percentage of Americans avoid going to their dental experts for regular cleaning. Studies show that those who neglect dental visits end up getting more cavities and have a greater chance of losing their teeth.

Getting your teeth professionally cleaned two times a year is the norm set by dental experts.

Bad Habit 5: Sweet Tooth:

Simple carbohydrates such as sugar are one of the things bacteria dwells upon. Drinking sugary drinks and eating candy makes this compound stick to your teeth, feeding the bacteria in your mouth. As this bacteria starts to create plaque, they condense sugar into acid, in turn damaging the teeth. By cutting back on excessively sugary items, you are sure to keep a healthy smile for a very long time.

By avoiding these five bad habits and following your dentist’s advice you can keep plaque buildup in check. Apart from this, another thing you may want to talk about with your dental expert is sealants. The fissures and pits on your molars can be extremely difficult to clear, even with proper dental cleaning. Plastic coatings such as sealants that cover the teeth surface can prevent acid and bacteria from entering, in turn preventing tooth decay.