Got Teeth? Here’s Why You Should Look After them

Got Teeth? Here’s Why You Should Look After themWe don’t really pay much attention to our teeth, do we? (Until things go wrong that is). As far as we’re concerned they’re there to help break down the food we eat, cut through any particularly hefty ingredients and look alright when we smile. Most of us just do the basic once over with a toothbrush, twice a day. It’s really important to show our teeth some love and attention though and here’s why.

Better chewing leads to better nutrient absorption Teeth are covered by enamel (fun fact – it’s stronger than bone) which helps give them the strength to chew up the food you eat. Chewing is a particularly important part of the digestive process as it helps to break down and releases the nutrients from the food we eat for digestion and utilisation within the body. If you don’t chew sufficiently or have problems chewing due to missing teeth the digestion of your food and nutrients could be reduced. Tooth loss could also alter food choice reducing the consumption of meat, fresh fruit and vegetables and thus vital nutrients as a result.

Don’t brush straight after eating All sorts of things can start to wear away at the enamel of your teeth over time and especially sugary drinks and snacks along with drinks and foods with a high level of acidity. This can lead to tooth erosion and the possibility of bacteria getting in and causing infection. Brushing straight after eating can be harmful to the enamel, especially if you’ve been eating acidic foods like lemons, fruit juices, fizzy drinks and sports drinks. It’s best to wait at least an hour so that your saliva can get to work keeping any excess acids in check and protecting the enamel before brushing. Rinsing your mouth with water after eating/drinking can help to speed up the process too.

Change your toothbrush with the seasons You should be changing your toothbrush or toothbrush head every 3-4 months, the best way to remember this is ‘new season, new toothbrush’. If it’s looking a little ropey way before that though make sure to swap it out for a new one, frayed bristles just won’t do the job of removing plaque and bacteria as well.
Time your brushing Regular brushing is essential to keep your mouth and teeth healthy and your smile sparkling, twice a day, no excuses! But did you know that time spent brushing might also have a significant effect on plaque removal? If you’re using a manual toothbrush then it’s easy to set a timer on your phone to make sure you’re hitting the 2 mins rather than take a guess and quit halfway.
If you want more tips and tricks to keeping your smile healthy come and see us at Smilepod!