How to have Perfect Teeth

   I love doing a checkup and telling a patient their teeth are perfect. Here are the things you need to do to hear me say that at your exam.

Clean your Teeth

   Clean your teeth every time you eat something. Brushing is best; mouthwash or even swishing water helps. Brush for a full two minutes twice a day. It's almost impossible to brush that long without a timer.  A good ultrasonic electric brush is better. It can disrupt plaque better, and it has a timer.
   The type of paste used is less important than how well you brush, but we like Crest Pro-Health the best. It has a modern version of stannous fluoride, which is better for some really boring chemical reasons.
   Mouthwash? Everybody wishes there was a magic one but there isn't.
   You need to clean in between the teeth every day- floss, water pik or toothpick. Only a small percentage American's floss. I think that one reason is because of the learning curve, if it feels awkward it's hard to keep doing it. We'd be glad to work on your technique with you. A water pik will do a great job. The technology is better now than the one your Grandma has on her bathroom counter. We love a model that's only $25 and will stow away in a drawer. European dentists recommend toothpicks, but then they have awesome European toothpicks. Fortunately they're also available here. Don't use too large of a pick for a space or it will create a space- the gums will recede.

Fluoride

   Fluoride for kids- Fluoride helps a lot when it's built into developing teeth. It's great that fluoride is in the water, but it's hard to tell how much your child is getting. Is there fluoride in bottled water? Does your fridge or other filter remove it? It's difficult to tell. Here are some things to do that help- Drink tap water. Use a little fluoridated tooth paste even for the little ones. Fluoridated water is good for adults, too. You get a little fluoride to soak into your teeth every time you drink water. Again, drink tap water.

Diet

   Sticky foods are bad, they hang around on the teeth for a longer time. Acidic foods are bad: soda, pickles, citrus fruits. Even diet soda is acidic. Sweets are bad, even juice, because the bacteria in plaque convert it to acid. It's best to brush every time you eat.

Regular Professional Cleanings

   Gingivitis (inflamed gums) is the most common disease on earth. It needs to be controlled or it progresses to worse things.You can clean plaque off your teeth at home, although a hygienist can do it better. Tartar is the hard stuff, you can't get it off yourself. Some people form lots of tartar quickly, others not so much. Twice a year isn't necessarily best for everyone. Some might need 4 cleanings a year, others only one.

Xylitol

   This is a natural substance that can inhibit the bacteria that cause damaging plaque. It's available in mints, gum, and mouthwash. The amount in regular gum is probably not enough to help much. If you're going to try this you should use it 5 times a day, "strive for five."

Dry Mouth

   Saliva is very important to rinse away stuff, also to buffer acid attack. Decay can go crazy if your mouth is often dry. Most toothpaste contains detergent, which can be drying. Biotene is one of the few pastes that contain no detergent. It also has enzymes and other things that can be low if your mouth is dry. Biotene also makes a rinse, spray, and gum. Sipping water all through the day will also help.

Crooked Teeth

   There are a lot more little places for  trouble to start if the teeth aren't lined up straight. These days there can be easier ways to straighten teeth than 3 years in braces.