Steps to a Whiter and Brighter Smile

Your smile says a lot about you, and if yours is preventing you from expressing yourself, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

The American Academyof Cosmetic Dentistry explains that over 96% of people who responded to a recent survey believed that a beautiful smile was more appealing. In fact, a white and bright smile can even make you look younger. Of course, good oral health goes above and beyond looks.

The mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body and if you do not brush twice, floss once each day and see your dentist twice a year, the rest of your health could be suffering.

According to yourdentist, there are some steps that you can take to improve your smile.

Brushing truly is the most important step when it comes to good oral hygiene as it removes the food particles that feed the bacteria. Brushing twice a day also cleans your teeth and gives you fresh breath. Use a fluoride toothpaste as it helps to strengthen your teeth as well. Your dentist recommends that you brush for two minutes. Use a timer, or purchase an electric toothbrush with a built in timer.

Just like brushing, flossing removes the particles and plaque between your teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach. Flossing also helps prevent gingivitis and periodontal disease as well. Because you do not produce as much saliva while you sleep, your dentist recommends that you floss just before bedtime as it leaves your mouth less vulnerable to bacteria attack.

Because your dentist can spot gum disease in its infancy, it is vital that you see your dentist twice a year. If gingivitis is caught early enough it can be treated and reversed. Some people are more prone to gum disease and should schedule dental checkups quarterly. People with other health problems such as HIV, diabetes and cancer should also visit the dentist more frequently.

In-between checkups check your mouth for trouble spots. Non-healing sores, bleeding or swollen gums, or pimples on your gums are all signs that you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

Keep your smile bright and healthy by quitting smoking and eating a healthy diet that is rich in calcium. Foods such as kale and sardines also contain calcium and should be included as part of your regular diet.

For more information regarding a healthy smile, schedule an appointment with your dentist today. 

What You Probably Don’t Know About the Humble Toothbrush

The next time you pick up that dental floss, take a moment to think about how your ancestors brushed and flossed their teeth, and you will quickly realize just how lucky you are.

According to your Dentist in Rancho Mirage, ancient civilizations have always taken care of their teeth and gums, but the methods that they resorted to were often disgusting, and downright painful.

The first tooth whitening methods can be attributed to the Ancient Egyptians who used wine vinegar mixed with a paste to polish and whiten teeth. This method was not as bad as the Ancient Romans who were thoroughly convinced that using their own urine, which contains ammonia, was the only way to brighten teeth.

Early toothbrushes were actually branches that had cleansing and antiseptic properties. These twigs were frayed at the end and used to brush teeth. Known as chew sticks these ancient tools have been discovered in the tombs of ancient Egyptians and are still used by some civilizations today. These twigs, or chew sticks, were probably much more hygienic than the early animal hair toothbrushes that were invented by the Chinese in the 1400’s.

The first toothbrushes were made from boar hair that was pounded into a piece of wood. Although more stylized than the first crude boar hairbrushes, this same concept was used up until DuPont invented the first nylon toothbrush in 1938.

Dental Floss does not have the colorful past that the toothbrush has. Dental floss is probably the world’s oldest product as toothpick remnants and dental floss has been discovered by archaeologists while exploring ancient tombs.

A dentist in New Orleans by the name of Levi Spear Parmly invented modern Dental floss. Dr. Parmly believed that people would have better results if silk floss were used to clean teeth. Before 1882, dental floss was only available at the dentist’s office becoming available to the public after Johnson and Johnson applied for the patent in 1898.

According to a recent survey, people would rather go without their television set or the internet instead of dumping their trusty toothbrush, and your Rancho Mirage Dentist is pretty happy about that. These days you can buy toothbrushes in different sizes and shapes, but the basic concept remains just as it did when it made its first appearance thousands of years ago.

If all this talk about toothbrushes has made you think about your own oral hygiene, perhaps it is time to schedule an appointment with your Dentist in Rancho Mirage, Dr. Randall Szutz.