We all know how important it is to take care of our teeth with effective brushing at home. By brushing twice a day you are stopping the build up of plaque which, if left unchecked, can cause cavities to form and dental decay to occur. But there are so many varieties of tooth paste on offer, it be confusing to know which one to choose.
Tooth paste ought to be applied to the bristles of your tooth brush when you are brushing your teeth. You should be using about a pea sized amount. Any more is unnecessary and wasteful and using less will be ineffective. Children ought to be especially careful an infants under two would do best to avoid tooth pastes fortified with fluoride.
For anyone older than two, tooth pastes enriched with fluoride can be very beneficial to teeth. This is because fluoride helps to strengthen enamel. Enamel is the tough substance which coats teeth and helps protect them from plaque. Most modern tooth pastes contain fluoride and it is also to be found in tap water.
Although increasingly rare, some tooth pastes contain alcohol. Alcohol is extremely effective at killing bacteria but it doesn’t discriminate and also kills the ‘good’ bacteria in the mouth. Tooth pastes containing alcohol and bicarbonate of soda can also help to make bad breath worse. This is because they leave the mouth in ideal conditions for the bad breath bacteria to flourish.
The next time you see your Leeds dentist, be sure to ask them about tooth paste. He or she is a trained professional and knows all about tooth pastes and which one will be best for your unique mouth.
Tags: brushing, dental decay, plaque
