All toothpastes have many things in common, but some address certain needs. Regardless of what these are, look for a product that has been approved by the American Dental Association. You’ll therefore know it is safe and effective. Also consider your family as well; young children, especially those under three years of age, should not use toothpaste with fluoride. Otherwise, you should consider your own dental health when choosing a toothpaste.

If you want to prevent tooth decay, fluoride toothpaste is essential. Many cities put fluoride in the drinking water, so you won’t need it if that’s the case. Fluoride helps strengthen the enamel and can avoid problems relayed to tooth decay later on. Here are some other aspects of toothpaste to help choose one.

Tartar Control

Plaque buildup on the teeth forms tartar. Tartar control toothpastes have chemicals that remove plaque. Some also have antibiotics to reduce bacteria that lead to plaque and tartar. If you have a tendency towards plaque accumulation, these toothpastes can help keep your teeth clean. Otherwise, tartar may continue to accumulate on your teeth and even your gums.

Sensitivity

If you are prone to sensitive teeth, a special kind of toothpaste can help numb the underlying nerves. This type has chemical compounds just for that purpose. They obstruct the nerve pathways to provide relief, although it doesn’t happen right away. You may have to use the toothpaste for a few weeks to notice the full effects.

Teeth Whitening

There are many toothpastes that claim to whiten teeth. If a whiter shade is what you are looking for, pick a toothpaste that has abrasive particles to polish your teeth whenever you brush. Avoid ones with bleaching agents. Some tooth whitening products work better than others, but consult your dentist on the best whitening toothpastes on the market.

A particular brand of toothpaste that’s good for a friend may not be the best choice for you. It is important to consider your unique dental health needs. Read the labels to see if the toothpaste does what you need it to. If you don’t have tartar problems, a tartar control toothpaste may not be necessary; likewise, if you’re happy with the color of your teeth, you don’t need a whitening toothpaste. Most of all, the product should feel and taste good, or you may develop an aversion to brushing your teeth.

Most of the time, people put off preventative care either because they forget, feel anxious about it, or simply do not have the time. This is a real problem, because preventative care is key to avoiding problems down the road. One of the best preventative care measures is building strong tooth enamel. The list provides four ways you can strengthen your tooth enamel to preserve those pearly whites.

1. Make Sure You Select The Toothpaste That Is Right For You

With so many different brands of toothpaste out there all claiming to do similar things, the search can become somewhat overwhelming. If your goal is fortifying your enamel, then the best option would be toothpaste with high fluoride content. Fluoride is great for enamel and combats tooth decay. When shopping around, take care to notice the ADA Seal of Acceptance to be sure the product you are selecting includes fluoride.

2. Avoid Sugar As Much As Possible

Sugary, starchy foods attract bacteria to the teeth that end up wearing away your enamel. Bacteria love sugars and starches, and will consume them at all costs. As they are eating, they produce acids that erode tooth enamel (in addition to causing other problems like tooth discoloration and sensitivity). Be especially cautious of foods that contain both acids and sugars–candy, especially gummy or chewy candy, is a nasty culprit here.

3. Eat Healthy And Monitor Your Nutrition

The human body will naturally guard against weak enamel as long as it is provided the right nutrients. Adding products high in phosphorous and calcium is a great way to start. These include most dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese. Additionally, these will help your enamel by shrinking the pores on the surface of your teeth, making it harder for bacteria to settle. Interestingly, strawberries are also a good food for enamel as they contain maltic acid, which removes tartar. In terms of meats, chicken and beef are both great as they also contain calcium and phosphorous.

4. Brush Regularly And Correctly

The best preventative measure you can take is to ensure that you are brushing your teeth twice per day, and after consuming any foods that could potentially weaken your enamel. Make sure you use a brush with soft bristles and carefully brush the insides of your teeth. Additionally, purchasing a tongue scraper and using it on your tongue will help reinforce the brushing efforts.

If you suffer from chronic dry mouth, you’re not alone. In fact, dry mouth (also referred to as xerostomia) is a common condition for people all around the world. It happens when the salivary glands inside the mouth don’t create an adequate amount of saliva.

There are several symptoms that indicate chronic dry mouth, including dry mouth and/or throat, bad breath, difficulty in speaking or chewing, thick saliva, an altered sense of taste, and problems wearing dentures or other dental appliances.

There are several possible causes for dry mouth, including the following.

• Side effect of medication: Many people experience a dry mouth as a side effect of a prescribed medication. This is especially true for people undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments for cancer, but there are a variety of medications that may reduce the production of saliva.
• Disease: Several health issues are related to dry mouth, including diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, autoimmune diseases, and oral yeast infections. People who have suffered a stroke often suffer from dry mouth.
• Sleep disorders: If you snore loudly, you probably also leave your mouth open when you sleep. This is a common cause of dry mouth.
• Getting older: Seniors often suffer from dry mouth for a variety of reasons, most of which revolve around the use of certain medications. But people who have long-term health issues and/or poor nutrition also experience dry mouth.
• Use of tobacco and/or alcohol. Both of these can leave you with a dry mouth.
• Drug use: People who routinely use recreational drugs (such as marijuana, methamphetamine, etc.) often experience dry mouth.
• Injury: If you’ve experienced an injury to your head and/or neck, or if you’ve had some type of surgery in this area, your salivary gland may be affected, and that can lead to dry mouth.

Whatever the reason may be, if you suffer from dry mouth, you should speak to your doctor or dentist about the best way to treat this condition. Chronic dry mouth can result in tooth decay, gum disease, mouth sores, and/or difficulty in chewing and swallowing your food. Fortunately, there are several effective ways of treating dry mouth. The best way is by treating the cause – quitting tobacco, alcohol, or recreational drug use, for example. But if the root cause is difficult or impossible to resolve, there are other effective treatments that will reduce your dry mouth symptoms. Talk to a medical professional for more information.

Teeth are strong, there’s no doubt about it. But even healthy teeth are not indestructible. In fact, what may seem to be harmless actions or habits can lead to a cracked tooth, and a cracked tooth will ultimately need to be repaired by your dentist in one form or another. So it just makes sense to avoid getting a cracked tooth in the first place if possible. Here are a few ways you can stop your teeth from cracking.

• Wear a mouth guard. If you play sports, or if you engage in any type of activity that could lead to a fall – bicycling, for example – it’s smart to wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth from injury. There are several types available, from a one-size-fits-all version to one that’s custom-made by your dentist.
• Avoid chewing anything that might damage your teeth. The most obvious culprits are ice and hard candy. But you should exercise caution when chewing anything hard, including popcorn kernels, nuts and chewy or crunchy candy, for example.
• Try to chew on both sides of your mouth. Just as a certain tool is more prone to damage if you use it all the time, those teeth that are used more than others will be more prone to cracking.
• Stop grinding your teeth. This habit can weaken your teeth, making them more likely to crack. If you grind your teeth when you’re awake, it may be simply a matter of becoming aware of the habit and quitting it. But if you grind your teeth at night (also referred to as bruxism), you may need help to stop. Talk to your dentist about night guards and other alternatives that will prevent you from doing any damage as a result of grinding your teeth.
• Visit your dentist on a regular basis. If you leave dental problems untreated, they will weaken your teeth, and that will make it more likely that your teeth will crack.

One of the best ways to avoid cracked teeth is to pay attention to your oral health. This may sound obvious, but it becomes increasingly important as we age. Just like bones, teeth become more brittle as people age. So it’s important to take good care of your teeth and gums by practicing a daily oral hygiene routine at home, visiting your dentist on a regular basis for exams and professional cleanings, and enjoying a diet that includes fresh produce, calcium-rich foods, and lean protein. By doing all that, in addition to following the tips listed above, you can avoid cracked teeth and the dental work that goes along with them.