Toothpaste isn’t all the mysterious, is it? You squeeze it out, you brush your teeth, done! Your Lake Orion, MI family dentist knows it’s a little more complicated than that. For example, be sure you are using a toothpaste that has earned the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. That means it’s been tested and met the ADA’s very high standards of safety and effectiveness. The more you know about toothpaste, the more it benefits your family’s dental health.
Myth #1: Brushing Cures Cavities
Effective toothbrushing is one method of helping prevent cavities, but once a cavity has formed, brushing cannot fix it. There are effective cavity solutions from your dentist, however, in the form of tooth colored fillings. The cavity will be gently cleaned and disinfected, and then a filling will be placed, to seal the area and restore the tooth in both form and function.
Myth #2: Toothpaste Can Clean All Tooth Surfaces
Brushing is wonderful for cleaning the front surfaces of teeth, and along the tops of molars. However, toothbrushes, whether manual or electric, cannot clean effectively between teeth. That’s where dental floss does its job. Dental floss can slide gently between teeth, to remove deposits of food and oral bacteria, before they have a chance harm tooth enamel.
Myth #3: Brushing Longer and More Vigorously is Better
You might think if a little brushing is good, then a lot of brushing better. Surprisingly, this is not usually the case. Your caring family dentist recommends brushing for about 2 minutes, at least twice a day. Brushing between meals is a great idea, if that fits your lifestyle. However, long brushing sessions, hard brushing, scrubbing at the gums and using a hard toothbrush are stressful to oral structures, and are not recommended for most people.
We Know Lots of Toothpaste Facts
Toothpaste comes in lots of flavors, textures and colors, so there is no excuse to skip brushing. Good home care goes hand in hand with regular checkups, to preserve your smile. To schedule a visit for in Lake Orion, MI, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry today at 248-693-6213.
