Dental Guidelines We Know ... but may not do

Well, today was my 6-month teeth cleaning. However today was more ... it was information, facts and recommendations for long-term tooth and gum health. So here it goes:

• Daily flossing is the #1 gum prevention maintenance task we should all do 
• Plague forms at about 18 hours - so floss within that time frame
• Do not brush your teeth immediately after eating. Acidic foods weaken the enamel and brushing will cause erosion of the weakened enamel 
• Chewing sugarless gum after eating since it neutralizes mouth acidity
• Additional benefits can be achieved by chewing gum with Xylitol since it reduces plague bacteria that support plague development
• Coffee and red wine stain teeth ... rinse your mouth with water
• Happy gums mean happy heart - bleeding allows bacteria into the bloodstream
• Don't 'brush' back and forth with an electric toothbrush. Place the brush head on a tooth, count to 4-5 and move to the next tooth. 
• Soda is the enemy of enamel - any carbonated beverage introduces acidity
• If you use mouthwash routinely, be sure it is alcohol-free
• Oh, and mouthwash is not a substitute for flossing