Can you believe March is almost over?!
Time sure is flying by. We seem to get so caught up in our busy schedules, it’s sometimes hard to remember to slow down every once in awhile and have a little fun.
That’s why today’s blog is all about fun! We thought we’d share some surprising secrets to help you keep your smile healthy and beautiful.
- Time To Time!
According to recent estimates, the average American spends somewhere between 45 to 70 seconds a day brushing their teeth. The American Dental Association (ADA) actually recommends brushing your teeth with a soft bristle toothbrush twice a day for two minutes each time.
It looks like we are coming up short, ladies and gentlemen! How long do you spend brushing your teeth? Maybe it’s about time to time yourself!
Here’s an idea: Choose a favorite song from your playlist. Make sure it’s at least two minutes long, but not too long so you don’t over brush. Play it from your smartphone. When the song begins, get to brushing! Keep brushing until the song is over, and then you’ll know you spent the appropriate amount of time scrubbing those pearly whites.
- So Long, Soda!
Sugar is the enemy of good oral health we most love to hate. We love the sweetness it adds to our table, but there are all kinds of negative consequences for your health when you consume too much added sugar. We know this, yet still, the average American consumes roughly 66 pounds of added sugar each year!
One of the ways we can cut back our sugar intake significantly is to say so long to soda. According to SugarScience.org, “people who drink 3 or more glasses of soda each day have 62% more tooth decay, fillings and tooth loss than others.â€
Maybe that’s because in just one can of soda, there are anywhere from 10 to 12 teaspoons of sugar. Sweet for taste, perhaps, but not so sweet for your smile.
Your mouth carries about 300 different types of bacteria. As unpleasant as that may sound, that bacteria isn’t really a bad thing. It’s when the sugar you eat is left behind in your mouth to feed the bacteria that makes it potentially threatening to your smile.
Sugars feed bacteria, which produces the acids that ultimately lead to damage and decay.
So there you have it. Keep that smile sparkly and sugar-free, and drink water instead.
- Switch Up Your Swishing With Oil Pulling!
Oil pulling is when you swish one tablespoon of coconut, sesame, or sunflower oil in your mouth for twenty minutes, and then spit it out. Sound crazy? A little too new age-y? Too trendy?
Perhaps, but it’s actually not a new concept at all. Oil pulling has been used as an oral health therapy technique for nearly 3,000 years. Although oil pulling is not exclusively done with coconut oil, most experts think the lauric acid in coconut oil make it a better choice than sesame or sunflower.
And it’s actually been proven effective, according to WebMD, in preventing gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Studies also show it can help you prevent plaque buildup and get rid of the microorganisms that cause bad breath.
Bonus Secret: Schedule An Appointment At Bright Star Dental!
Above all, we recommend that you schedule a routine dental cleaning and exam with us at least twice a year. Our highly experienced team of professionals have been serving the Las Cruces community for three decades.
Our skilled hygienist will give you a deep cleaning to effectively remove any plaque and tartar buildup that may be hiding under or around your gumline. Then Dr. Gilbert will give you a thorough examination to check for things like cavities or gum disease. He’ll also administer an oral cancer screening.
For your next dental checkup, schedule an appointment with Dr. Gilbert. Give us a call at 575-680-1084 or fill out our convenient online form. When you trust your smile to our team, everyone will want to know your secret!