It is a fact that going to a dentist is an incredibly important part of life. Regular dental appointments allow you to keep track of any changes with your teeth, get professional cleanings, and know right away if a cavity needs to be filled. None of these things can be done by going to see your dentist. The problem is that the average person is only going to see their dentist once every six months. While this is the recommended amount of time to go in between appointments, there is a great deal of time in between. During this time, you are responsible for taking care of your teeth. For some people, it is difficult to know exactly what they should be doing in between their regular dental visits. Brushing is obvious, flossing too, but is that enough? Should you be doing other things to ensure your oral health remains excellent? Are you brushing enough? All of these questions, as well as others, will be answered here. You will find the information listed here detailing everything you should be doing in between dentist visits.
The first thing to consider is not an obvious detail. This is whether or not you are seeing the best dentist meet your specific needs. Every single person is unique. This means that a dentist that is perfect for one person may be a terrible match for another. This does not make that dentist a bad dentist, it just means that there was not the best choice for that individual. In fact, a dentist can be the best dentist in a given area and they could still not meet exactly what a specific person needs. An excellent example of this is women who are only truly comfortable seeing female medical professionals. This happens for a myriad of reasons. Any time a woman is assaulted, that stays with her for the rest of her life and can ultimately change how she interacts with the world. When they are assaulted by a man, it can cause distrust of the entire gender. This is not necessarily fair, but it happens more than one would think. Another reason is religious beliefs. Many religions do not believe in any man other than a woman’s husband seeing in any state of undress or even touching her in some cases. It is also considered improper by many cultures and religions for a woman to be alone with a man that is not her husband. This makes it impossible for her to have male medical professionals including dentists. This is only a small example of why an excellent dentist may not be right for a specific person. Of course, in these examples, the person would not have been going to that dentist, to begin with; however, there are many reasons why you may be seeing a dentist that you are not necessarily comfortable with. If this is the case, take time in between your appointments to take stock of what you need and want. If these things are not being met, consider looking for a new dentist. Also, in between visits, you may relocate. When this occurs, you will need to take the time to find a new dentist regardless of how much you liked your previous dentist. Either way, a quick internet search is all that is needed. Of course, you can also peruse a local phone book if you have one available. If you do not have one available, phone listings are available online. All you need are a few keywords. If you are looking for a dentist in Tulsa, there are some excellent options to check out.
Next, let’s talk about brushing. Everyone knows that brushing your teeth is a vital part of oral care. Therefore, you are most likely brushing regularly. This is great, but there are a few questions you need to ask yourself about your brushing routine. First, how often do you brush your teeth? Twice per day is the recommended amount. It is important to keep this up every day, not just when you think about it or feel that you have the time. When you do brush, how long does it take? The American Dental Association recommends brushing for two minutes every time. In fact, they promote the two by two rules. This stands for two minutes twice a day. Some people have no trouble with brushing for two minutes, but others struggle and often do not brush for nearly long enough. This may seem like enough information to ensure that your brushing routine is up to par, but there are a few other things to consider. One of those things is the debate about whether to brush before or after eating, particularly in the morning. While brushing after eating can be beneficial, there are a few rules you need to follow. The most important of these is how long to wait after eating. For some foods, you can brush your teeth right away after eating. However, if you are eating or drinking anything that is even remotely acidic, you must wait at least thirty minutes. The reason for this is that the acidity in some foods weakens the enamel of the teeth for a short time. If you brush your teeth during this time, you can cause damage to the enamel. Because of this, it is often more efficient to brush your teeth before eating. If you are not in a hurry and have the time to wait, brush after eating.
Next, consider flossing and using a mouth rinse. It is important to floss at least once per day. It is often best to floss twice per day, each time you brush. This way, you can start the day out completely fresh and end it that way as well. Also, by flossing of the evening, you can be sure to remove any food particles that have built up during the day. Of course, if you feel the need to floss at other times during the day, do not hesitate to do so. Keep in mind, though, to be careful and not scrape your gums with the floss. Especially if you are flossing multiple times every day. In terms of mouth rinse, it is just as important as brushing and flossing. You should use it every day to eliminate germs that are missed by the brush and floss. It is best to avoid using mouth rinse directly after brushing as it can wash away any fluoride left by the toothpaste.