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| Oral health is a vital part of your overall well-being. When your mouth is healthy, you can eat the foods you need for good nutrition and feel more confident smiling, laughing and talking. Your teeth and gums were meant to last a lifetime. Follow these tips for maximum oral health.
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Eating for Healthy Teeth and Gums
The foods you eat not only affect your overall health; they affect the health of your teeth and gums. For optimum oral health, choose a variety of nutritious foods and brush your teeth twice a day.
To help prevent plaque, the American Dental Association® (ADA) recommends limiting eating and drinking between meals, and choosing nutritious snacks. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth and gums. When these bacteria connect with sugar or starch in the mouth, acid is produced, and this acid can cause tooth decay.
To protect against acid attacks, try Crest® Pro-Health® Enamel Shield Toothpaste. Crest Pro-Health is the only toothpaste that protects all of the areas dentists check most:
- Fights cavities
- Fights tartar
- Fights plaque
- Fights gingivitis
- Whitens teeth
- Freshens breath
- Fights sensitivity
Tools of the Trade
Does it really matter what type of toothbrush and toothpaste you use? Dental experts say yes. Most dental professionals recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush and replacing it every three months. You also might want to choose a toothpaste containing fluoride to help strengthen your enamel, the hard outer coating on your teeth.
Proper Technique for Brushing Your Teeth
The ADA recommends brushing your teeth twice a day. You’ve probably got that part down. But have you checked your technique lately? Here are some tips from the experts at Crest to help you get the best clean.
- Brush gently for two minutes, spending 30 seconds each on the inner and outer surfaces of teeth, the chewing surface of teeth, and your tongue.
- To clean the inner and outer surfaces of your teeth, hold the brush at a 45-degree angle. Clean the chewing surface of your teeth by holding the brush flat and brushing back and forth.
- Tilt your toothbrush vertically and use the toe of your toothbrush to clean the back of your front teeth. Use gentle, up-and-down strokes.
- Remove any remaining particles of food by brushing your tongue with a sweeping motion, back to front. This freshens your whole mouth.
- Once your two minutes are up, be sure to floss!
Follow these tips and get regular dental checkups for a smile you can flash with confidence for many years to come.
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