After a child’s baby teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth, those teeth must last a lifetime. As they are the only teeth you’ll have from that point forward, you need to take care of them. It does take time, but the consequences of improper dental care impact more than your teeth. It can impact your health, too. Dr. Jody Jones of Nashville offers these tips to protect your teeth and gums.

Avoid Sugary Drinks

Sugary drinks are not good for the teeth. They damage enamel and increase the risk of tooth decay. A recent study shows exactly how damaging sugary beverages are to permanent teeth.

In this study, researchers studied the oral health records of 16,431 participants aged 20 or older. Of those people, 10,053 were non-smokers and 10,050 had seen their dentist in the past year. Participants were asked to report what they drank and how often they drank it. The beverages were:

• 100% Fruit Juice
• Soda
• Coffee/Tea
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Flavored Milk
• Energy/Sports Drinks
• Other Sugar Cane Beverages like Horchata

Those beverages were then grouped by the amount of sugar in them. The levels were 0 grams, over 0 grams to 38.4 grams, 38.5 to 73.9 grams, or 74 or more grams. By the end of the study, it was found that there was a 1.2x greater risk of tooth decay if the sugary drink had less than 46.8 grams and a 1.7x greater risk in drinks over 46.8 grams.

The best drink is water. If you’re in an area where the tap water is unpleasant, a pitcher filtration system is helpful. You should drink water as your main beverage. If you want to have something sugary, make sure you’re washing it down with water and limit how many you have.

Be Honest with Your Dentist About Your Health

Your dentist needs to know what prescription medications you’re taking and if you have any chronic health conditions. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease may have you taking medications that increase the risk of tooth decay. 

Prescription medications for some of these health conditions have side effects like dry mouth. Even over-the-counter medications can impact your dental health, so be honest about anything you take for your health.

Be Mindful of What You Eat

Sugary foods can be addicting. If you must have them, limit it to now and then. Rinse your mouth after them. They are not the only thing to watch, however. If you love dried fruit, it may not have added sugar, but it has natural sugar. That natural sugar damages your enamel, too. Dried fruit is also sticky and gets caught in the crevices and grooves. 

Brush Twice a Day and Don’t Brush Too Hard

You need to brush your teeth twice a day. Watch how much pressure you use, as brushing too hard damages your enamel. If you can afford one, there are rechargeable toothbrushes that flash lights to alert you when you’re pressing too hard.

Choose the Right Toothbrush

While the pressure you use is important, the type of toothbrush is equally important. Do not choose a brush with hard or firm bristles. While people often think a harder bristle removes more plaque, it scratches your tooth’s enamel. A soft bristle brush is always the better choice.

Don’t Brush Immediately After Eating

Most people get up, have tea, coffee, or juice, eat a meal, and head directly to the bathroom to brush their teeth. Don’t. It’s damaging your enamel.

After a meal, acids in foods and beverages weaken enamel. Give it an hour for your enamel to strengthen again. If you cannot wait that long, brush your teeth first, then shower, get dressed, and have your meal before leaving.

Drink Plenty of Water During and After Meals and Snacks

Saliva helps rinse away food particles, but you can help saliva out by drinking water. Have a glass of water during a meal. If you deal with dry mouth, ask your dentist about products that help correct it. Also, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water throughout the day as you won’t have as much saliva to do it for you.

Floss Daily and Don’t Overlook the Value of a Water Flosser

Make sure you floss your teeth once a day, and floss correctly. Get an 18-inch section of dental floss and hold it tightly between your thumbs and index fingers.  Curve the floss around and between each tooth and the back of your back molar. Bring the floss down to the gum and back up again using a back-and-forth motion to scrape food particles and plaque from the tooth surface. 

You might want to invest in a water flosser to use briefly after meals. It will remove larger food particles.

Read Mouthwash Ingredient Labels

If you love to rinse with mouthwash, it can actually do more harm than good. If a mouthwash doesn’t contain fluoride, it will rinse any fluoride toothpaste that has just coated your teeth with the important mineral. In many cases, it’s an unnecessary product. 

Some people struggle with the idea of not rinsing out their mouth after brushing their teeth. A fluoride rinse is best if you have to use a mouthwash.

Start Your Children Young

When should you bring your baby to the dentist? Ideally, you should make an appointment to time it within six months of the first tooth appearing. If your baby is nearing a year old and hasn’t gotten a tooth yet, it’s a good idea to schedule a first visit.

During a first visit, your baby gets used to the things a dentist does, such as checking the gums and looking at the baby’s bite. You also can ask questions and get a dentist’s opinion on the best kid-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste to use.

Use a Fluoride Toothpaste

Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen teeth through remineralization. It also slows down the process where bacteria release acids that damage enamel. Because of this, it helps prevent tooth decay. While there are people who worry about fluoride toxicity, it’s not going to happen with daily toothpaste use. Even if you have fluoridated public water, it’s not a dangerous amount. Avoid toothpastes that omit fluoride.

See Your Nashville Dentist as Often as Is Recommended

Most adults and children should go for cleanings and exams twice a year, but that’s not enough for others. Talk to your Nashville dentist about the frequency of dental check-ups. People who’ve been diagnosed with gum disease may need to see Dr. Jody Jones every three or four months instead. Insurance companies often cover additional visits if it’s recommended.