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Why Regular Brushing is Essential for Protecting Your Teeth
For those of you out there who make a habit of falling asleep without brushing your teeth, what you’re about to read might be a wake-up call. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your teeth twice a day, and it’s not just to keep up appearances.
Failing to brush your teeth just once can quickly cause you to experience plaque buildup that leads to cavities, gum disease, and more. Brushing your teeth doesn’t only help because it removes harmful plaque, but by simply moving the plaque around you are limiting its ability to attack your teeth and cause damage.
There’s no tried-and-true amount of time that it takes for untreated plaque to turn into a cavity, but experts agree that it can start to damage your teeth after only one day. Additionally, the longer plaque stays on your teeth, the greater the chance that it will develop into tartar, a hard, yellow material that damages your gums and leads to tooth loss.
Haphazardly running a brush across your teeth isn’t going to save your teeth, either. The ADA recommends that you spend at least two minutes per brushing session to ensure that you’ve thoroughly attacked any plaque buildup. And don’t ignore those hard-to-reach areas. Even though your back molars aren't what people see when you flash your beautiful smile, they’re essential for chewing, and allowing them to develop cavities will result in toothaches.
Also, don’t think that mouthwash, gum, or mints are taking care of the job. Just because your breath is fresh, doesn’t mean that plaque isn’t wreaking havoc on your teeth.
Flossing once a day and receiving regular teeth cleanings from a licensed dentist are also essential for keeping your teeth healthy and strong.
Pain and discomfort stemming from a tooth is a sign that your teeth need professional dental care and failing to treat cavities and gum disease can lead to permanent tooth loss.
For Gainesville, Florida’s premier dentist, contact Jason C. Croft, D.M.D. today. New patients receive 15% off their first treatment!