As Valentine’s Day approaches, you may be making dinner reservations, chocolate covered desserts, and plans for sharing a romantic night with your loved one. But you may also want to make your mouth healthy before the 14th. Kissing has many benefits—it even helps reduce cavities. But if you share kisses with someone who has an unhealthy mouth, you may be sharing more than you bargained for. Take these five steps to get your mouth ready for Valentine’s Day.

Brush Twice a Day

If this is already a habit of yours, keep it up! Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing every day will help eliminate bacteria that causes cavities. When you kiss or even share a fork with another person, you easily spread that cavity-causing bacteria to another person.

Prevent Bad Breath

Bad breath is a sure-fire way to bring a romantic moment to a halt. Brushing your teeth on a regular basis will help keep your breath in check. Also, consider using a mouthwash to freshen your breath and wash away debris and bacteria in hard to reach places. You may want to grab a pack of sugarless chewing gum to eliminate bad breath after a meal. Just be sure to look for the ADA seal of approval on your gum and mouthwash.

Use Your Own Toothbrush

Sharing isn’t always caring. When you share a toothbrush, you share bacteria and other germs that can cause sickness as well as cavities. In every situation, it’s best just to use your own. If you plan to stay overnight with someone outside your home, make sure you pack your own toothbrush.

Stop Smoking

If you can kick your smoking habit, you will be giving yourself and your loved ones a great gift! Smoking stains your teeth, causes bad breath, leads to gum disease and puts you at risk for oral cancer. When you smoke, there are terrible repercussions for your overall health. And while you may not notice it anymore, your friends and family can smell the smoke on your hair and clothes. Talk to your doctor about effective ways to quit smoking.

Make Your Smile Brighter

If you’re self-conscious about your smile, you may need a simple whitening procedure. There are many good options for over-the-counter whitening kits, but you may have more success with an in-office procedure. Talk to your dentist today and find out which option is best for you. People who whiten their teeth find that the brighter smile gives them the attractive quality of self-confidence.

The best way to make sure your oral hygiene is in good standing is a regular office visit. To schedule a cleaning, contact us at Atkins and Anderson, DDS today. Call us at (979) 846-1813 and visit our website to learn more about Opalescence, our unique tooth whitening procedure.

 

Source: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/adults-under-40/healthy-habits/valentines-day

Flossing tends to be one of the most overlooked forms of dental hygiene. Yes, brushing your teeth is important, but so is flossing daily. In order to effectively protect your teeth from cavities and decay, you need to add this habit to your oral care routine. Let us teach you how to properly floss so that you get the best results.

Is it Really Necessary?

If you’re not convinced that flossing is actually beneficial, maybe we can help. Flossing protects you from cavities and gum disease by easily removing plaque. Plaque is that sticky film on your teeth that contains a bacteria drawn to sugar and leftover food in your mouth. Once it begins to feed on the leftovers, it releases an acid that destroys your teeth and causes cavities. Plaque easily sneaks between your teeth, in the hard to reach places that your toothbrush can miss. Flossing is the best way to eliminate the plaque. If the plaque is not removed, it hardens and turns into tartar, a substance that leads to gum disease. Tartar cannot be removed by anyone except your dentist. So, the most effective way to prevent tartar buildup, cavities, and plaque is to floss every day.

How Do I Floss?

Below are five steps that will help you floss correctly. This correct technique is provided by the American Dental Association (ADA).

Step 1. Take 18 inches of floss and wind the majority of it around one of your middle fingers on your left hand. Take the remaining floss and wind it around the same finger on your right hand, leaving a few inches of floss in between.

Step 2. Take the leftover floss and tightly hold it between both thumbs and pointer fingers. You will move through the floss, unwinding it from your left hand and catching used floss in your right hand.

Step 3. With a gentle, rubbing motion, move the floss between your teeth. Be careful to avoid snapping the floss into the gums.

Step 4. Once you get to the gum line, curve the floss into a C shape around the tooth. Carefully move the floss into the space between the gum and the tooth.

Step 5. With the floss tight against the side of the tooth, move it gently in an up and down motion away from the gumline.

Repeat steps 3-5 on every tooth and make sure you floss the back side of your last tooth.

What Else Should I Know?

The exact time of day that you need to floss is up to you. All that matters is that you include this habit on a daily basis. Many people feel that they are less rushed at night and add a few extra minutes to their nighttime routine by flossing. For those that are too tired to do one more thing in the evening, we suggest flossing after your mid-afternoon snack.

There are several different kinds of floss that you can use. Find the one that is best for you and will not deter you from skipping this important step. One type is unwaxed floss. If your teeth are close together, this floss is good because it is thin and fits into tight spaces. However, it is prone to breaking or shredding. Waxed floss is a nylon floss with a wax coating. It is stronger and breaks less easily than unwaxed floss. There are also soft flosses for those with sensitive teeth and gums that bleed easily. Flavored flosses are ideal for kids, and super floss is best for those with braces or dental bridges.

While regularly brushing and flossing is key to good oral hygiene and a healthy mouth, these habits do not exempt you from a professional teeth cleaning. Schedule a cleaning for the whole family at Anderson & Atkins, DDS today by calling (979)846-1813.

 

Sources: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/brushing-and-flossing/why-you-should-floss-daily

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/f/flossing-steps

https://oralb.com/en-us/oral-health/solutions/floss/dental-floss-types-pros-cons

The most common New Year’s resolutions in America are: save money, lose weight/exercise, get a new job or hobby, and make new friends. We know that many of you are already working diligently to begin fulfilling your New Year’s resolutions. While we want to cheer you on towards your goals, we also want you to consider another resolution—take care of your oral health. It’s never too late to enhance your smile by resolving to care for your teeth and gums. Here are five things you can do this year that will really give you something to smile about.

1. Revamp your Habits

Make sure you are brushing your teeth at least twice a day to successfully remove plaque. You may need to upgrade your toothbrush to an electric toothbrush or trade your old, frayed toothbrush for a new, soft-bristled brush. Try a new toothpaste that has fluoride to improve your oral health. If you tend to brush too hard, you risk scraping off the enamel. So this year, brush your teeth gently, at a 45-degree angle to your gum line. If you do not consistently floss, add in this important discipline. Flossing removes food, plaque, and bacteria that accumulates in between your teeth. Good brushing and flossing habits protect you from gingivitis, cavities, tooth decay, and bad breath.

2. Adjust your Diet

This is not only a suggestion for those who want to lose weight but for those who want to improve their oral health. It’s a win-win! There are certain foods and beverages that can be detrimental to your oral health and should be consumed with caution. Foods that are high in carbohydrates, as well as foods and drinks that are high in acidity and sugar lead to plaque build up and tooth decay. Limit your consumption of these products, or avoid them entirely. If you consume these foods and beverages, especially when snacking, it’s important to brush your teeth afterward.

3. Stop Tobacco Use

Smoking cigarettes and using smokeless tobacco are known causes of gum disease. Infection can get underneath your gums and even damage the bone structure that supports your teeth. Let this be the year you stop smoking and using tobacco. This decision will enhance your overall physical and oral health as well as your oral hygiene. Lean on friends and family for support, download an app to help you track your progress, and utilize free online resources and support groups.

4. Schedule Appointments for Restorative Dentistry

Have you been putting off a simple oral procedure? This is the year to get that filling, crown, or implant you just haven’t made the time for. These simple actions can improve your oral health by protecting tooth alignment or structure. At Anderson & Atkins, DDS, we work with most major insurance companies. You can call our front office to find the answer to your financial questions and schedule the appointment you know you need to make.

5. Come See Us Regularly

We recommend scheduling a dentist appointment every six months. A routine visit can prevent gum disease, tooth decay, and significantly reduce the number of procedures you may need. When our team of dentists and oral hygienists see you regularly, we can discover—and treat— gum disease early, or anticipate and monitor problem areas before they become a major issue.

Don’t wait until your gums or teeth are painful before you contact us. Call Anderson and Atkins, DDS at (979)846-1813 to make an appointment for routine cleaning. We are also accepting new patients, so if this is the year you’re ready to take your oral health seriously, come see us!

 

Sources: https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/these-are-the-top-new-years-resolutions-for-2019

https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/life-stages/adult-oral-care/a-new-years-you-dental-health-resolutions-0114

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/periodontal-gum-disease.html