Except for Bill Murry in Little Shop of Horrors, no one really likes going to the dentist. The moment we walk into the reception area, where the dissonant chords of the drills merrily hum along, the hairs on the nape of our neck stand on edge. And yet, twice a year we put on our best Sunday smile and head off to have our teeth poked, our gums prodded and, on occasion, our tongue numbed.
It seems like a no win situation, on the outside: Either we sit uncomfortably in the chair while our dentist attacks the plaque with eager vigor, or we allow the plaque to sit on our poor teeth while the health of our mouth slowly degrades, possibly causing heart damage down the road. However, if we adhere to the tips below, we can make our trip to the dentist just a little more palatable:
* Brush your teeth consistently and often. Regardless of when you had your last meal, bacteria is always present in the mouth so it as important to brush in the morning after a good night’s sleep as it is to brush your teeth before going to bed. It’s equally important to brush your teeth after lunch. Many companies now make a wallet-sized toothbrush and toothpaste; this is a very good investment.
* Making sure that you don’t have food particles sitting in your mouth even during the day is a great first step towards a healthier mouth. Of course, if you ever have any questions please do not hesitate to call your dentist’s office. Someone there will be happy to help you and give you additional advice.
* To aid in reducing the staining effect that many drinks and substances (such as coffee, tea or cigarettes) have on our teeth, try swilling around some water after consumption. You can also chew gum, or, best practice would be to actually go brush your teeth.
* Further, in an effort to keep the enamel on your teeth from cracking, avoid drinking hot and cold liquids at the same time (i.e. do not drink coffee and ice water simultaneously). The rapid, repetitive expansion and contraction can cause great damage to your teeth. Drinking ice-cold mineral water (these drinks often have helpful vitamins and minerals) can help make your teeth stronger as well.
* When playing physical sports, such as lacrosse, field hockey or basketball, it is important to wear a mouth guard. An errant ball or elbow could severely damage your teeth with an impromptu visit to the dentist’s office your only reward. Although there are many great commercial mouth guards available, if you play competitively, it is worth the extra money to have your dentist design an individually fitted mouthpiece for you. It is also a good idea to wear a mouthpiece if you engage in other physical recreational activities.
* Even people who stand in front of the mirror for minutes on end to make sure that they have brushed every square inch of their mouth should floss. Taking the extra preventative step can help keep bacteria from feeding on the food in your mouth leading to tooth decay. Also, the paucity of food in the mouth will help to prevent an infection from spreading rapidly from germs.
Using some of these principles daily will help to keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong…hopefully keeping you out of the dentist’s chair for anything other than a routine cleaning.
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