Dental health — It’s all in the timing…

We can all name the basics of dental health: brush, avoid sugary foods, and visit the dentist. But when it comes to achieving optimal oral health, details matter. When we eat and care for our teeth can mean the difference between health and disease.

When to Brush?

Brushing and flossing your teeth before bedtime is the most critical step in dental health. The food we eat forms a bacterial plaque that sits on our teeth, causing tooth decay and gum disease. Leaving plaque on your teeth overnight gives those bacteria a long, uninterrupted opportunity to do harm. For ideal prevention, dentists recommend you brush every morning and floss and brush your teeth every night before bed.

Snacking And Sipping

beverages, and we have a recipe for tooth decay. How to offset this? If you must snack, rinse your mouth with water after. Drink only plain water in between meals to neutralize the oral environment and support the teeth.

Your Six-Month Cleaning May Not Be Enough

Most patients assume their teeth only need a professional cleaning every six months. For those prone to gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis), this one-size-fits-all approach is not recommended. Gum disease is an infection of the gums and bone that support the teeth and can lead to tooth loss when untreated. Patients who develop gum disease need more frequent cleanings to keep the infection under control. If you have active gum disease, your dentist will likely recommend that your teeth be cleaned every 3 or 4 months to keep you healthy.

Today’s busy schedules have us eating more frequently, instead of the standard three meals. Frequent snacking exposes our teeth to sugars and acids so often that they cannot recover. Add in sipping on sugary and acidic

Brought to you by South Court Dental, located one mile south of the Medina square. Contact South Court Dental at 330-725-0581 for an appointment and establish your routine for great dental health.