Our teeth are important to us. We need them for chewing, talking, and smiling. The hardest substance in the human body is tooth enamel, but sometimes this material can break down if we don’t properly take care of our teeth. Don’t risk having to see an emergency dentist because of cavities or more serious conditions such as infected root canals. Be sure to visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings and follow these other tips for good dental health:
1. In the United States alone, we spend an estimated $775 million dollars per year on toothbrushes. This cost is no mistake: as toothbrushes get more advanced, we’re paying more for electric toothbrushes and more complex dental cleaning systems. These brushes do a much better job than traditional soft toothbrushes and will clean all or most of the surfaces of your teeth with proper use.
2. But did you know that you can spend an even smaller amount on something else to help your teeth? That’s right–just a dollar or two will buy you dental floss, so you can not only clean your tooth’s surface with a brush but also clean the spaces in between teeth as well. About 31% of Americans floss their teeth less than daily, and that practice is putting those 31% of Americans at risk for cavities and other conditions. Be sure to floss each day, at least twice a day, in order to fight off cavities and other potential problems with your teeth.
3. It’s not just adults who need to take care of their teeth; even children who may not have all of their permanent teeth yet need to be careful to not develop cavities by practicing good brushing and flossing habits. According to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated 15.6% of children and teens ages 6 to 19 in the US have untreated dental cavities. Be sure to take your kids to a pediatric dentist if one is available to you, or see a family dentist for patients in your family of all ages.
4. Avoiding the dentist doesn’t just mean having a buildup of plaque or tartar–it also puts you at risk for more serious conditions. Anything from dental cavities to infected root canals can end up costing you dearly if you end up needing a more serious dental procedure performed. Patients with infections such as infected root canals are also more likely to need either crowns and fillings or more serious treatments such as tooth replacements.
If you’re not already visiting a dentist for cleanings, checkups, and other necessities like x-rays, be sure to find one in your area. There are an estimated 154,000 dental practices as of 2013 in just the United States, so you have plenty of dentists to choose from, including ones that are affordable for the whole family. The smiles of you and your family depend on good dental health, so find dentists in your area today who can help you keep your teeth healthy. Find more on this here.
