5 Steps to a Better Smile
Little Known Secrets for a Celebrity Smile
Ever wonder why some people possess
beautiful smiles while others try but can never achieve the
same result? Believe it or not, the secrets to a great smile
are simple steps that each and every one of us can take. Below
are five steps that will lead you to a brighter and better
smile.
1. Take a little extra time to give your
teeth the care they deserve.
Did you know that it takes two to three minutes to
adequately brush your teeth but that most people spend less
than 30 seconds brushing? Why is brushing this long so
important?
It all has to do with bacteria. Millions of
bacteria live, work, and play in our mouths. They feed on
food left on our teeth after we eat. Acid is a by-product
of this bacterial feasting. It is this acid which
destroys enamel creating cavities.
Brushing removes bacteria from our teeth so they
can no longer make acid. It is important, however, to
remove bacteria from all tooth surfaces. This
takes two to three minutes.
2. Do a little flossing. It just might save
your teeth.
O.K. so you've heard that you need to floss at
least once a day. But has anyone ever told you why? You
see it all has to do with bacteria again. These crafty
critters like to hide between teeth to escape the wrath
of the toothbrush. Here they continue to feed on food
spewing out cavity causing acid.
Worst yet - if allowed to remain for a long
time, these bacteria invade and destroy gum tissue as
well as the bones and ligaments which support teeth.
Flossing removes these bacteria from between teeth so
they can no longer cause problems.
3. It's not just the candy that is dangerous
to your smile.
Did you know that many foods other than candy
promote tooth decay? Bacteria feed on the sugar of candy
creating cavity causing acid. Bacteria, however, not only
use candy to create acid but can also use any food which
contains sugars and other carbohydrates. This includes
fruits, peanut butter, crackers, potato chips, popcorn,
and other foods.
Especially harmful can be foods like raisins and
peanut butter that stick to teeth where they provide a
constant source of energy for bacteria.
What can you do to protect yourself? Well
brushing after meals helps by removing both the bacteria
and the left over food particles which the bacteria feast
on. If you can not brush, try washing food down with
liquids ensuring that less food remains on teeth. Chewing
sugarless gum also helps because this stimulates saliva
flow. Saliva acts as a natural plaque fighting
substance.
4. Stop brushing so hard.
Incredibly, nearly two out of three people
damage their own teeth by brushing too hard! It takes
very little pressure to remove bacteria, food, and
plaque. Unfortunately, most people apply three to four
times the necessary brushing pressure causing damage to
teeth and gums. This damage includes: receding gums,
sensitive teeth, notched teeth, and root cavities. The
Alert toothbrush is a manual toothbrush designed to help
you brush safely and prevent tooth and gum
damage.
5. Reduce your dependency on coffee.
Believe it or not, coffee is one of the most
dangerous threats to your smile. Coffee stains teeth
destroying your naturally white smile. Worst yet, because
most people sip coffee throughout the day, bacteria are
provided with a constant source of sugar from which to
produce cavity causing acid.
If that wasn't bad enough, coffee can cause
small fractures in teeth called crazes. These occur when
the teeth are forced to expand and contract as a result
of being exposed to hot foods or liquids. These hot and
cold cycles occur when we drink hot coffee. Over a
prolonged period of time, this will create crazes in the
teeth.
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