When you truly understand why you brush your teeth, you will be willing to do it more often. Brushing your teeth removes left over food particles and plaque from the surface of the teeth and gums. While most people have been told their entire lives to simply brush their teeth twice a day, it is actually important for people to take the extra step to brush after they eat. Preventive care is the best oral health practice. At Gold Hill Dentistry, we provide family dental care to help patients achieve and maintain a healthy, beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime.

After eating a meal, sugars in the foods begin to break down. When food particles are left between the teeth or in the grooves of the molars, bacteria begin to attack the teeth and gums. Have you ever run your tongue over your teeth and felt a “film” on them? That is the beginning formation of damaging plaque, and after brushing that film should be gone from the teeth. What many people do not know is that this bacteria laden film forms in the mouth all day long. If you only brush your teeth first thing in the morning and as the last thing you do before bed, you are allowing your teeth to be subjected to damaging plaque for 12 or more consecutive hours during the day. This is an incredibly long time to allow bacteria free range in your mouth! By simply making it a habit to brush your teeth after you eat, you can protect your teeth throughout the day.

Your teeth are meant to last for a lifetime, and there are no natural solutions for permanent teeth that are lost. Prevention is key to health, and that rule applies to your oral health just as it does to the health of the rest of your body. Flossing your teeth daily, eating a well-balanced and healthy diet, brushing your teeth after you eat, and seeing your dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups are the best steps in promoting optimal oral health.