Are you ignoring your teeth? Overlooking your dental health? Have a fear of dentists that’s keeping you from the office?
Busy moms have a lot on their plate (ask me how I know). Despite all of the schooling, errand running, meal planning and housekeeping duties, taking care of yourself has to be a priority. Remember that oxygen mask analogy?
How important is dental health in your house? Are you taking good care of your teeth?
If it’s been a long time since you’ve visited your dentist, don’t fret. Take a peep at these eleven easy tips for keeping your dental health in tip top shape.
Check ups around the clock
Dental checkups are recommended every 6 months for optimum dental health. It’s much easier (AND CHEAPER) to fill a small cavity, rather than waiting until the tooth needs a root canal.
Check around with different offices – if you don’t have dental insurance, ask about cash discounts. Don’t forget to check out local dental schools. Most will offer excellent services at a cheaper rate.
Change Your Toothbrush
Toothbrushes SHOULD be changed every 3 to 4 months. If you have a cold, the flu, a sore throat, or mouth ulcers, it’s time to throw out your toothbrush, no matter if you just opened it last week.
Toss the Tobacco
Smoking wrecks havoc on a whole host of body systems, including your mouth and teeth. Smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco turn your teeth yellow, increases plaque and tartar buildup and increases your risk for gum disease and oral cancer. If you’re having oral surgery, being a smoker delays your healing process.
Try Electric on for Size
I never used an electric toothbrush until recently, and I LOVE it! I’m still getting the hang of using the rechargeable fancy brush, but my mouth feels cleaner than with my standard manual version.
Kick the ice habit
Are you like me and love to chew ice? Be warned.
Chomping on ice can crack your teeth. I just spent an hour in the dentist chair repairing a filling I cracked during my love affair with pellet ice.
Brush your teeth!
Dentists recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day, for at least 2 minutes. That’s the bare minimum. Carry a toothbrush and toothpaste in your purse or car, so that you’ll have it for on the go.
Get the kids started early
Shortly after their first birthdays, your children need to meet the dentist. Set them up for a lifetime of healthy teeth EARLY!
I’d recommend taking them to a pediatric dentist for their first visit. The staff in a pediatric office are accustomed to dealing with children, and may know some tricks of the trade to alleviate children’s fears.
We take all of our children to the dentist together. My older children serve an as example to their younger siblings, as they know the routine well.
Make Taking Care of Your Teeth Fun!
For kids, entertainment goes a long way with compliance. We use fun toothbrushes, tasty toothpastes, and even bribery with stickers to ensure that they get the teeth brushing job done.
A Healthy Diet Equals Healthy Teeth
Just like in other aspects of keeping yourself healthy, a good diet is half the battle. Avoid soft drinks, coffees or teas — if you have to drink them, brush your teeth afterwards.
Ever wonder what foods are healthy for your teeth? Don’t miss this list of the best foods for dental health.
Don’t forget to Floss!
You’ve heard it all before from your dentist or hygienist -“Are you flossing?” The answer to that question is usually not enough.
You can floss with standard nylon floss, power flossers, or my absolute favorite – a water flosser. I have crowns and bridges, so traditional flossing is a pain in the butt for me. My gums are super sensitive as well, so I haven’t been as diligent about flossing as I should be.
Do you have dental tips that I’ve missed? Be sure and share them in the comments!
Okay, I’ll have the kids lay off the cigarettes.
Just kidding.
My kids inherited my awful teeth, so we’ve had to go crazy about dental hygiene around here. My favorite tips:
– Firefly toothbrushes. Ordered online. They flash for 1 minute, so they know to brush for two.
– ACT rinse (we use bubblegum flavor
– Spry gum (changes mouth to alkaline to inhibit cavities. My dental hygienist was very enthusiastic about this gum.)
– Limit candy to Saturdays (one piece- Saturday candy). There’s just candy everywhere, so we have them bring it home, put it in there box and pick a piece on Saturdays. They get plenty of sugar at other times and sometimes they’ll end up with some during the week, but they know it’s a treat. Usually only on Saturdays and I cut out chocolate milk almost entirely.
– They brush twice a day and I STILL brush after them (ages 8, 6, and 2). It seems like I shouldn’t have to, but cavities are no fun. So for now I am. Until we’ve been cavity free for a while.
– Online I ordered those red tablets that show plaque. They are crazy messy (and the red dye possibly causes cancer which is rather disconcerting) but we only use them about once a month. I just want to know if there’s any plaque hiding out.
Excuse my obsessiveness, but one time my 5 year old had 4 cavities and I had to turn into a freak about this. Great post!
Not only do some dentists offer cash discounts, many healthcare providers accept CareCredit, a program that allows you to make interest-free payments on health and dental needs. This was a lifesaver for us when my husband needed over $1000 worth of dental work. We we able to pay it off in about 8 months, no interest. Be aware, though, it is a credit card, and if you don’t make on-time payments and pay things off in the no-interest period, you will be paying things back with interest.
My dentist told me that when using an electric toothbrush to hold the brush over one tooth for a few seconds, then slowly slide it over to the next tooth, rather than brushing up and down quickly like we do with a regular brush.
I have horrible gums, and my dentist recommends that I use my electric toothbrush for 4 minutes per brushing- 2 minutes on top, 2 minutes on bottom. I can’t stand brushing for that long, but when I do, I always feel a huge difference!! Even though flossing is a must, doing this 4 minute routine (brushing the way she suggests) is a lot like flossing!!
I really need to invest in a water pik, but haven’t justified the cost, yet.
Aren’t I silly, that I have to have someone tell me how to use a toothbrush? 😉
I HATE to floss — it usually makes my gums bleed, and I have some bridges, veneers, crowns, etc, so I have to use special tools, etc. That’s part of the reason the WaterPik works so well for us.
I swung through Target yesterday, and I think they were in the $60 range for the base model.
Healthy teeth make us also healthy and fit. Following these tips will help us achieve our goal for a beautiful smile.
I’ve never used an electric toothbrush, but my brother swears by his. Does it hurt your gums at all? I have pretty sensitive teeth and gums, so I do worry about that with the spinning bristles.
You make a great point about how your nutrition can make a significant impact on your dental health. Many women in America struggle to get enough calcium in their diets. I also like your tip about making sure that your floss. If you only brush your teeth, you are neglecting 30% of the surface of your teeth. You know that your family dentist will check your flossing areas. Why not do both of you a favor and make sure that you floss regularly.
I never knew that it’s important to change your tooth brush every 3 to 4 months. It’s actually been a while since I’ve changed mine, and I can sometimes feel the difference with it. I’m really glad I found this because I’ll be sure to get a new one right away. Thanks a ton for sharing this with me.
Taking care of teeth takes a lot of work! Thanks for the tips on keeping teeth healthy, most of these I had no idea about. Especially the ice, I love to chew on ice! However, I guess I have to decided if having healthy teeth or chewing ice is more important. Thanks to my dentist for taking care of me and all my bad habits! Thanks again for the tips!
I didn’t realize that a toothbrush should be changed every 3-4 months. It makes sense that knowing how to take care of your teeth can help you have a great oral health. It is important to remember that seeking the help of a professional can help you understand more about your mouth and how to keep it performing the best.
What I find most valuable is your reminder that prevention is key—by prioritizing consistent oral care habits and seeking professional dental care when needed, we can maintain excellent dental health for a lifetime.