The importance of brushing and why it is critical for long-term dental health and cavity prevention

Preventing a cavity from forming is more than just about brushing and flossing. The food you eat, the medicines you take, and even your age can all contribute to tooth decay. Even with strictly regimented brushing, flossing, and rinsing, you may still develop a cavity. Even so, there are some amazingly simple steps you can take to drastically reduce the chances of developing tooth decay. Individuals in the Century City, California area have been getting sound advice from Dr. Meredith Levine. The caring team at Meredith Levine, DDS, Inc. Dr. Levine, and her team want every patient to live a healthy life with as few dental issues as possible. 

Following the common cold, tooth decay is the second most common disease Americans face each year. In fact, it has been found that 25 percent of adults and over 50 percent of teenagers have all had at least one cavity. It is easy to overlook your oral health, but it is an essential part of your everyday life. Dr. Levine believes that it is never too late to take control of your dental health and would like to share some straightforward steps you can take to help minimize the risk of developing cavities and tooth decay. Because, while brushing and flossing are essential components of maintaining healthy teeth and gums, they are still just a piece of the puzzle.

Know your risk

The initial step for you to take control over your dental health is knowing your risk level for developing cavities. This can be achieved by visiting your dentist for a comprehensive oral exam. By seeing your dentist for regular examinations, you and your dentist can discuss where your oral health stands and what treatments are needed to prevent tooth decay. You can also discuss your current oral hygiene regimen and diet with your dentist so that they can recommend any necessary changes. Once you know where you stand regarding your oral health, you will follow a specific and effective plan for improving and maintaining it.

Proper brushing

Brushing your teeth is a no-brainer. You know it needs to be done so that you maintain good oral health. But what you may not realize is that there is a right and wrong way to brush your teeth. Also, it is important that you are using the correct type of toothbrush. Now, let us look at why brushing is such a critical component of good oral health.

Are you aware that your mouth houses nearly a billion microbes that recycle what you eat and drink? This is what causes tooth decay. These microbes feed on sugars in the food and beverages you consume and leave behind the waste. This waste is in the form of dental plaque. The formation of dental plaque provides an environment for the microbes to continue their work as they begin to produce the acids which wear down your tooth enamel. This wear is what creates cavities in your teeth. 

The good news is that ridding your mouth of these bacteria can be pretty simple. Brushing your teeth is the most effective way to kill these microbes, and it takes just a few minutes a day to brush after meals and before bed. Brushing before bed is most important because, otherwise, you will leave your teeth unprotected for the entire six to eight hours that you are sleeping. During that time, the acids formed by these bacteria will do damage. Although it is recommended that you brush twice a day, it certainly doesn’t hurt to brush after lunch also!

While brushing your teeth is so important, doing so the correct way is even more important. Here are some recommendations provided by the American Dental Association for effective brushing:

• Apply gentle pressure using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Brush at a 45-degree angle, moving the toothbrush in short, tooth-wide strokes. Make sure to brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of the teeth.
• With gentle up-and-down strokes, use the tip of the toothbrush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth.
• Don’t forget your tongue! Brushing your tongue will kill bacteria and give you fresh breath.
• Replace your toothbrush every three to four months.

The Benefits of Electric Toothbrushes

If you have never tried using an electric toothbrush, there are many reasons to do so. Maybe you have been on the fence about switching to electric because they cost more than a regular toothbrush.

 Maybe you just are not aware of some of the benefits offered by an electric toothbrush. We are here to help you. One of the most important benefits of an electric toothbrush is its ability to reach parts of your teeth that are hard to get to with a regular brush. The rotating head of an electric toothbrush will feature bristles which can reach further than a regular brush. It has been found that those who use electric toothbrushes are getting a more thorough cleaning thanks to a feature included in many electric brushes which tells you when to move to the next quadrant of your mouth. This allows equal brushing and ensures you aren’t ignoring any particular part of your mouth. 

Finally, an electric toothbrush does the work for you. When we use a manual toothbrush, it can be easy to overbrush and brush too hard. An electric brush will time your brush while helping you make sure that you aren’t overbrushing.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Meredith Levine, please call (424) 358-3811 today!