Most of us learn to brush after meals with fluoride toothpaste and use an alcohol based mouthwash. But most of us still get cavities and gum disease and spend a small fortune at the dentist to keep our teeth in our heads. The following 7 Steps to Great Dental Health offer an effective low cost alternative.
1) Eat Right
Great dental health starts at the grocery store. Buy and eat whole foods: whole grains, natural unprocessed dairy products, fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meat and fish and good quality eggs. Avoid sugar, white flour, all refined and processed foods and carbonated drinks. The occasional treat isn’t a problem, but everyday consumption of refined processed foods and carbonated drinks will undermine your dental (and general) health. It’s best to ban it from your kitchen.
2) Take Vitamin Supplements to Rebuild Enamel and Stop Bone Loss
Take 800mg of Calcium (Calcium Citrate is best) and 400mg of magnesium daily. You should notice a difference in about 3 months. If you don’t, try a different brand of calcium. In addition, a good multi-vitamin will also support healthy gums and teeth.
3) Toothpaste
Use Tooth Soap. Conventional toothpaste contains sodium laurel sulphate (to make it foam) which is a known skin irritant and not good for gums. Natural toothpastes contain glycerin. Glycerin may interfere with rebuilding enamel. It also leaves a slick film on your teeth making it difficult to feel if your teeth are clean. Tooth Soap doesn’t contain sodium laurel sulphate, glycerin or even fluoride. It comes in flakes or liquid, is 100% natural and contains no harmful chemicals that can damage your gums. It is real soap. The flakes don’t taste great, but the liquids do. Kids even like the grape, cherry and chocolate flavors! Tooth Soap will get your teeth cleaner than any conventional or glycerin based toothpaste, it will not interfere with rebuilding enamel and will not damage your gums.
4) Brushing, Flossing and Interdental Brushes
Use a soft tooth brush and a light touch. Excessive scrubbing damages teeth and gums. A great way to achieve a light touch is to hold your toothbrush with only two fingers. This will make it impossible to scrub away at your teeth. Alternatively use a sonic toothbrush. These do a great job of massaging your gums. Floss once or twice daily using unwaxed dental floss. Glide is very easy to get in between close teeth. Some people use a Water Pik instead of flossing. It’s not as effective and is not a replacement. Interdental brushes are very effective at cleaning pockets (the gaps between your teeth where the gums have receded). Use interdental brushes after flossing to remove any remaining food.
5) Hydrogen Peroxide
The main cause of periodontal disease is bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth. Hydrogen peroxide kills bacterial plaque and it also whitens your teeth.
Clean with a 1% solution twice a week. After regular brushing dip your toothbrush into the solution and brush it onto your teeth. Then dip your interdental brushes into the solution and get it into it your pockets. It will foam up when it comes in contact with bacteria.
Caution: You must dilute Hydrogen Peroxide to 1%. If you don’t you can burn your gums. If you buy a 3% solution, use 1 capful of Hydrogen Peroxide and 3 capfuls of water. If you buy 6%, use ½ capful to 3 capfuls of water. If you have any irritation, stop using it until the irritation goes away and try again using less or doing it less frequently.
6) Water
When we eat our mouths become acidic. This is normal and an important part of our digestion. The mouth remains acidic for about twenty minutes. An acidic mouth is more prone to tooth decay. Rinsing your mouth with water after meals will help reduce acidity. This simple inexpensive tip could save you costly dental work.
7) Don’t Smoke
Smoking causes periodontal disease. If you smoke, decide to stop. There are many therapies around to help you stop. People successfully stop smoking everyday. The decision is yours.
The above dental regime will help resolve most common dental problems and help you maintain healthy teeth and gums, it may also help you prevent other diseases. This is not a substitute for seeing your dentist regularly, and if you have periodontal disease, please see a periodontist.
We hope this regime helps you save your teeth and your money.
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