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What if you were destroying your teeth and didn’t even know it? We brush our teeth twice a day in order to keep cavities and other oral health issues away. But just brushing your teeth is not enough to protect them. Instead, you must ensure you are brushing them the right way. That’s where we in. Keep reading to discover our top 5 Webster Family Dentistry tips to brush perfectly every time as well as some easy mistakes you need to avoid!

How Long Should You Brush Your Teeth?

It’s important to brush your teeth for at least two minutes at a time twice a day. You should use a timer or stopwatch to ensure you brush for the minimum amount of time.

At first, using a timer or stopwatch may seem like overkill. However, it’s not until we start brushing each morning and evening that we realize Albert Einstein was correct. Time is relative!

Without checking the time, it’s easy to think two minutes have gone by when they haven’t. And if you keep finishing 30 seconds too early, this can sabotage your dental care over time.

Is It Possible to Brush Too Much?

While brushing for more than two minutes is usually not dangerous, it is possible to brush your teeth too hard. This can lead to sensitivity, abrasion, and even gum recession.

Most people who brush too hard are very concerned about their dental hygiene. Unfortunately, brushing hard can cause its own kinds of dental care issues separate from not brushing enough.

If you’re worried that you’re brushing too hard, be sure to consult with your dentist. And here at Webster Family Dentistry, we’re happy to make sure each tooth brushing session is “just right.”

The Type of Toothbrush Matters

When you go to the store, you may notice that there are often dozens of different toothbrushes to choose from. However, some of these are going to be more effective than others.

For example, you need a toothbrush with soft bristles. This is ideal for removing plaque from your teeth, which is why such brushes are recommended by the American Dentistry Association.

Beyond that, you have some choices in which type of toothbrush to use. Some people prefer a brush with a smaller head because they find it easier to get to those hard-to-reach places within the mouth. And many prefer an electric toothbrush because it provides a stronger and more consistent brushing experience.

How Often Do I Need to Replace the Toothbrush?

It’s best to replace your toothbrush every three months. However, you can replace it earlier than that if you begin to see signs of wear and tear. And you should always replace your toothbrush after you recover from an illness.

It’s important to think of your toothbrush like any other tool. It will wear down and become less effective over time. And if you don’t replace the brush in time, then even a vigorous brushing job may not effectively clean your teeth.

If you use an electric toothbrush, you can replace the head instead of getting a brand new brush. This helps cut down on the overall costs of your dental care.

Finding the Right Toothpaste

One of the most common questions we get is what toothpaste a person should be using. However, the correct answer varies from patient to patient!

For example, some toothpaste is designed for sensitive teeth. And some toothpaste is designed to whiten your teeth. Other types are formulated to fight cavities in a particular way.

Long story short? If you are concerned about which toothpaste is right for you, it’s best to consult with your dentist. This is especially true if you have concerns about your current toothpaste.

Toothbrushing Mistakes to Avoid

When it comes to dental hygiene, sometimes it is important to know what not to do. Even small mistakes in toothbrushing add up over time and can lead to major issues with your dental care.

Fortunately, the most common toothbrushing mistakes are easy to fix. Below, we have a few mistakes you need to avoid!

Just Going Back and Forth

The most common toothbrushing error is that people go back and forth over their teeth with the brush. This technique might make your teeth look good, but it won’t remove most of the plaque.

That’s because plaque builds up around your gums. To go after the plaque, you need to start at your gums and move the brush up and down instead of left to right. This “gentle massage” technique will be much more effective.

Brushing Too Soon After Eating

One of the reasons that we brush at night is to clean up our teeth after a day of eating various meals and drinking assorted drinks. Some people think it is best to brush right after eating. However, that can be a big mistake!

The food we eat leaves acid on our teeth. Fortunately, our saliva helps deal with the acid. But if you don’t wait at least 20 minutes after eating to brush, you’re sabotaging your dental care.

That’s because if you brush before your saliva helps deal with the acid, your brushing may spread the acid around. Just like that, brushing can do harm to your teeth.

Ignoring the Inside of Your Teeth

We brush in front of a mirror most of the time. Because of that, we brush what we can see. But it’s also important to brush what you can’t see: the inside of your mouth.

Plaque can build up inside your teeth just like it builds anywhere else. And if you don’t take care of this hidden plaque, it can lead to cavities and other major issues.

Brushing the inside of your teeth as well as your tongue helps improve your dental hygiene. As an added bonus, your breath will smell better, too!

Visit Webster Family Dentistry Today

Now you know how to brush your teeth better every time and what mistakes to avoid. But do you know who you can trust with your overall dental hygiene?

Here at Webster Family Dentistry, we specialize in giving you healthier teeth and a brighter smile. To see what we can do for you and your family, just contact us today!

Did you know that, in 2020, the size of the dental industry was $15.57 billion? Additionally, this amount is expected to double by the year 2027, reaching a size of $30.59 million. The biggest growth drivers include new dental technology, dental implants, and cosmetic surgery.

If you’re thinking of going to a dentist in the industry, you might be wondering whether you want them to perform a straight teeth procedure.

However, if you aren’t sure whether you want straighter teeth or not, you might be stressed about making this decision.

Fortunately, in this article, we’ll review the benefits of having straight teeth. Finally, you can decide if you want to straighten your teeth and have a smile you’re happy with. Read on to learn more.

1. Healthier Gums

When teeth are spaced too far apart or too crowded, bacteria and plaque accumulate under and along the gum line. Additionally, this makes it more difficult for you to brush or floss. Another issue is that the gums sometimes don’t fit properly around the teeth.

When any of these problems occur, they can lead to periodontal disease (also known as gum disease).

When the disease is minor, it’s gingivitis. With appropriate care, it’s reversible. However, if it becomes more serious, it can turn into periodontitis.

Periodontitis, while manageable, can’t be cured. This disease is a leading tooth loss cause in adults. Also, gum disease has been linked to various health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

This is likely because of the inflammation gum disease causes in the body.

2. Healthier Teeth

As we mentioned in the last point, having teeth that are misaligned or crooked can make it more difficult for you to brush and floss. As a result, as the bacteria and plaque that collect feed on starches and sugars, they’ll eat away at your tooth enamel.

Over time, this can lead to tooth decay. This will lead to an increased risk of the development of cavities.

3. Reduced Wear

When you bite, the pressure usually is distributed evenly across your teeth. This is in a way where you won’t cause pain or wear down your teeth unevenly. However, when you have teeth that aren’t in the right places, some teeth will bear a larger amount of brunt.

As a result, there will be an excess of enamel wear on those teeth.

By straightening your teeth, you can avoid the large amount of enamel wear that would otherwise occur with crooked teeth. This will in turn help you avoid issues such as tooth loss, cracked teeth, and so on.

4. Stronger Supporting Bones

If your teeth are spaced too widely, especially if you’re missing a tooth, this can cause you to experience jawbone loss. If the alveolar bone isn’t being used, it will begin to reabsorb and deteriorate. However, when your teeth are in the right place, this will help to preserve the jawbone.

5. Improved Comfort

Another problem that misaligned teeth can cause is undue stress on the chewing muscles and the temporomandibular joints. This can cause many different types of pain, including earaches, shoulder pain, neck aches, headaches, and TMJ pain.

When you straighten your teeth, you can balance bite forces. As a result, you’ll take the stress off your temporomandibular joints and the connected discs and muscles.

You can keep these areas healthy while also alleviating or preventing discomfort.

6. Clear Speech

While this may not be an obvious benefit that comes from having straight teeth, having teeth that aren’t straight can sometimes cause speech issues. This is because teeth play a role when it comes to producing some speech sounds.

They do this by serving as a contact point for the tongue or by directing airflow.

Additionally, for the production of some sounds, there’s a specific amount of room the tongue needs to move in the mouth freely. Crooked teeth can get in the way of this.

An example of this is when someone has an excessive open bite or overbite. Another example is when their two front teeth have a big gap between them.

When these issues are present, the person might have a lisp when they pronounce “th” or “s” sounds. They might even create a whistling noise.

Whether the solution is to fix an overbite or simply straighten the teeth, having straighter teeth can help make speech clearer.

7. Easier Chewing

Another benefit you can get from having straight teeth is easier chewing. When you have a functional bite and aligned teeth, you’ll be able to bite into your food, and chew it, efficiently and comfortably. This also provides you with an indirect health benefit.

You’ll have more options when it comes to the foods you can eat, and you’ll also digest them better. As a result, you’ll be healthier when it comes to your nutrition.

Interested in Getting Straight Teeth?

Now that you’ve learned about the benefits of straight teeth, you might be interested in having yours straightened. Maybe you’re interested in other procedures, too, such as fixing an overbite or having a procedure done that gives you straight, white teeth.

Whichever procedure you want to get, you should get it at Webster Family Dental. We’re dental industry experts in the Webster/Kirkwood St. Louis area.

Our services include cosmetic, restorative, preventative, and emergency dentistry. To learn more about the dental procedures we do, contact us now.