Protecting Your Teeth By Brushing


by Thomas Ajava - Date: 2007-02-10 - Word Count: 478 Share This!

Every since you were a small child, you were told to brush your teeth every day. Now that you are an adult, you should probably find out what you should do this.

Your teeth are some of the hardest parts of your body. They stand up well to the constant pressure put upon them by the environment in the mouth as well as from chewing. Despite their strength, teeth need to be cared for properly or they will not last. You need to visit a dentist twice a year for a checkup and cleaning. Regular flossing helps to keep your gums healthy. The most important thing you can do is brush your teeth at least twice a day.

Your mouth has a large amount of bacteria. The bacteria join together to form plaque. Plaque is a thin film that forms on the surface of your teeth. The type of bacteria in plaque varies. It also changes depending on the location in the mouth. The problem with this bacteria is that it feeds on starches and sugars. If you have particles of food remaining in your mouth, the bacteria will have plenty to live on and plaque will increase.

The bacteria cause an increase in lactic acid. The lactic acid starts to dissolve the minerals that make up the tooth enamel. Normally, the saliva in the mouth can cause the acid to be neutralized. This makes the pH in your mouth return to normal. Once the pH is normal, the minerals start to be replaced in the enamel. As long as the saliva has time to work before you eat again, the teeth can repair any damage done by the bacteria on their own. However, if your teeth have a buildup of plaque on them, the saliva can not get through the plaque to neutralize the acid. This causes the enamel to lose minerals and not be able to be repaired.

Over time, this breakdown of minerals in the enamel can lead to tooth decay. Dental caries is the official term for cavities in the mouth. Caries cause the structure of your teeth to be damaged. It can lead to infection and a large amount of pain. You can lose your teeth and in severe cases, even die. The good news is that you can prevent this by brushing your teeth at least two times a day. You should brush after every meal. Brushing your teeth will remove a large amount of the plaque from your teeth.

In addition to oral health reasons, brushing your teeth also helps your teeth stay white. It also gives you clean breath. Brushing your teeth should be part of your daily routine. Used in combination with regular dental visits and flossing, it can allow your teeth to be healthy for a long time.

Thomas Ajava is with DentistStop.com - providing daily dental hygiene tips.

Related Tags: dentistry, teeth, dental, tooth, brush, plaque, dentist, decay, cavities, cavity, enamel

Thomas Ajava is with DentistStop.com - your source for affordable dental care. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles

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