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Ever wonder why some people possess
beautiful smiles while others try but can never achieve the same result?
Believe it or not, Dr. Steve says, the
secrets to a great smile are simple steps that every one of us can take. Here
are Dr. Steve’s five steps that will lead you to a brighter and better smile.
1. Take a little
extra time to give your teeth the care they deserve.
Resarch shows that most people only spend about 30
seconds brushing their teeth. But, Dr. Steve says, it actually takes two to
three minutes to adequately brush your teeth
“It might seem like a bit much,” he says,
“but brushing this long is really important.”
It all has to do with bacteria. Millions
of bacteria live, work, and play in our mouths. They feed on food left on our
teeth after we eat. Acid is a by-product of this bacterial feasting. It is this
acid which destroys enamel creating cavities.
Brushing removes bacteria from our teeth
so they can no longer make acid, Dr. Steve says. Removing all that bacteria from
your mouth takes two to three minutes. That’s all there is to it!
2. Do a little flossing. It just might
save your teeth.
Okay, so you've heard that you need to floss at least
once a day. But has anyone ever told you why?
It’s that dreaded bacteria again.
“Bacteria hides in the places a tooth bruch can’t get to,” Dr. Steve says, “like
right between your teeth.” Without flossing, the bacteria continue to feed on
food, spewing out cavity-causing acid.
Worse yet, if allowed to remain for a
long time, these bacteria invade and destroy gum tissue as well as the bones and
ligaments which support teeth. Flossing removes these bacteria from between
teeth so they can no longer cause problems.
3. It’s not just the candy that is
dangerous to your smile.
Most people don’t realize that foods other than candy
contribute to tooth decay, Dr. Steve says. Bacteria feed on the sugar of candy
creating cavity causing acid. “Bacteria can also use any food that contains
sugars and other carbohydrates to create this destructive acid,” he says. These
foods include fruits, peanut butter, crackers, potato chips, popcorn, and more.
Foods like raisins and peanut butter can
be especially harmful because they stick to teeth, providing a constant source
of energy for bacteria, he says.
Brushing after meals helps by removing
both the bacteria and the left over food particles which the bacteria feast on.
“If you can’t brush, try washing food down with liquids ensuring that less food
remains on teeth,” Dr. Steve says. Also, chewing sugarless gum also helps
because this stimulates saliva flow. Saliva acts as a natural plaque fighting
substance.
4. Stop brushing so hard.
Nearly two out of three people damage their own teeth
by brushing too hard! It takes very little pressure to remove bacteria, food,
and plaque. But most people apply three to four times the necessary brushing
pressure causing damage to teeth and gums, Dr. Steve says. This damage includes
receding gums, sensitive teeth, notched teeth, and root cavities.
5. Reduce your dependency on coffee.
Believe it or not, coffee is one of the most dangerous
threats to your smile. Coffee stains teeth destroying your naturally white
smile. Worst yet, because most people sip coffee throughout the day, bacteria
are provided with a constant source of sugar from which to produce cavity
causing acid.
If that wasn't bad enough, Dr. Steve
says, coffee can cause small fractures in teeth called crazes. These occur when
the teeth are forced to expand and contract as a result of being exposed to hot
foods or liquids. These hot and cold cycles occur when we drink hot coffee. Over
a prolonged period of time, this will create crazes in the teeth. |
