Your teeth are hugely important indeed. After all, more than 95% of all adults in the United States alone feel that teeth and the overall quality of your smile can actually play a considerable role in your overall social success. In addition to this, very nearly one quarter of this same population also feels that teeth quality can impact your professional working life as well, something else that is certainly of a great importance indeed. And your overall dental health is important past appearance, as an unhealthy mouth can lead to larger problems with the entirety of your body and being as well.
Fortunately, it is likely easier to keep your dental health in good standing than you might think. For one thing, simply brushing your teeth twice throughout the day can have a profoundly positive impact on your overall oral health. You should make sure that you are brushing for long enough and with the right amount of pressure, as both too little pressure and too much pressure can actually end up being quite detrimental indeed. In addition to this, using a toothpaste with fluoride in it can be beneficial as well. Picking a toothpaste that is certified by the ADA is a must, as there are many fad toothpastes out there that can actually end up doing damage to your teeth, at least to some extent. Charcoal toothpaste is just one good example of this, as the charcoal found in dental products does not just whiten but can actually strip the enamel from your teeth as well, something that can be linked to the fact that it is quite abrasive indeed.
Of course, regular dental check ups will also be critical to preserve your overall dental health. For most people, going to the dentist at least twice throughout the course of the year is ideal, as this will help to identify any issues that might be underlying. In addition to this, the scale and scope of the typical dental cleaning tends to be a bit higher in quality than your average teeth brushing, making it important on this biannual basis. A dental professional can also help you with other dental issues, such as those surrounding orthodontics. At the very least, they can refer you to a qualified orthodontist in your area.
And seeing an orthodontist is something that many people will do at some point in time, from the orthodontist in San Mateo to the orthodontist in New York City. After all, most people will grow into permanent teeth with an irregular bite. Fixing this irregular bite is hugely beneficial, as it will preserve the quality of the adult teeth as well as help to improve the overall aesthetic appeal of the smile in question as well. Therefore, braces have long been and still are very commonplace. Typically, people get braces relatively young, when they are between the ages of eight and 14, once their adult teeth have come in. Evaluating for braces can be done even earlier, however, and it is even recommended that children start to see an orthodontist at the age of seven, though they likely won’t even actually get braces for a number of years after.
But sometimes, braces are needed outside of childhood as well. After all, only just over one third of all adults in the United States actually have a good bite with properly aligned teeth. For many people, braces in childhood were still had, but the bite slipped back into its original position over the course of the years. This can happen when the retainer isn’t worn, as is all too common among many who once had braces. In addition to this, some people simply are not able to get braces in childhood for any number of reasons. Fortunately, there are alternatives to the typical metal braces that might immediately come to mind when you think of braces. Invisalign braces, for instance, are particularly popular, thanks to the fact that such braces are clear, have a success rate of more than 90%, and typically take only a year or two to work. Therefore, any San Mateo orthodontist is likely to recommend this program.