You probably know that it’s important to keep up with daily brushing & flossing to keep your teeth & gums healthy & maintain your oral health, but you might be wondering what the toothbrush you use every day is made of.
We’ve all seen those commercials & ads that show a toothbrush with a generous swoosh of toothpaste. While that imagery is very satisfying, in reality that’s way more toothpaste than anyone needs.
We all know that brushing your teeth is essential, but did you know that how you store your toothbrush can affect your oral health?
Your oral health depends on minimizing harmful bacteria that cause infections & cavities. Brushing your teeth helps clear away food particles that feed the bacteria in your mouth, but if your toothbrush isn’t clean, you can introduce even more bacteria into your mouth!
Here are some ways you can make sure your toothbrush (& your mouth) stays clean.
You might think that using a toothbrush cover or keeping your toothbrush in a cabinet or drawer will protect it from bacteria & other germs in your bathroom, but this actually doesn’t allow your toothbrush to fully dry. When your toothbrush can’t completely dry, it creates an environment that is far better suited for bacteria to grow.
It’s best to store your toothbrush upright & in a way that allows it to air dry. If you share a bathroom or have multiple toothbrushes, make sure that the heads don’t touch one another—that can allow bacteria & germs to transfer between the toothbrushes.
Since you should be storing your toothbrush out in the open, it’s important to minimize contaminants in the air. The easiest way to do this is to flush the toilet with the lid closed. When you flush with the lid open, bacteria & other particles are sent into the air—they can travel up to six feet, & you definitely don’t want anything from the toilet getting on anything in your bathroom, especially your toothbrush!
If you share a bathroom & aren’t able to get everyone to put the toilet lid down, try storing your toothbrush in your bedroom.
Unfortunately, just closing the toilet lid isn’t enough to protect your toothbrush. If you store your toothbrush too close to the sink, it can be splashed by soap or dirty water, & you don’t want that in your mouth either!
The best solution is to keep your toothbrush in a corner of your bathroom away from the sink & toilet. If you’re strapped for space, you can get a wall-mounted toothbrush holder to place high enough to avoid any splashing from the sink.
Whether you use a cup, a wall-mounted holder or something else to store your toothbrush, you’ll need to clean it regularly to avoid a buildup of dust, germs & bacteria. You can wipe your toothbrush holder with an antibacterial wipe, wash it in the sink with warm soapy water or put it in the dishwasher if it’s dishwasher-safe.
It’s easy to take your teeth for granted. But if you neglect them, they can end up costing a lot. Let’s take a look at what teeth might be worth from a couple different perspectives & you might just see that there’s immense value in taking the time to care for them regularly.
For kids around the world, the value of a tooth is tangible. Children who put their lost teeth under their pillows at night find the teeth replaced by money in the morning. Baby teeth (also called milk teeth) have gained value over the years—now, many children receive as much as $5 per tooth!
For adults, losing teeth isn’t quite as profitable. As an adult, if you lose a tooth you don’t get a visit from the Tooth Fairy with some cash, & you won’t have another tooth come in to take its place, either!
Instead, losing a tooth results in a trip to the dentist, who will likely recommend treatment that includes an implant, crown or bridge—or even dentures if enough teeth are missing. Such treatment to replace teeth can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on your dental insurance & what your specific dentist charges. The result of this work would be some very valuable teeth indeed!
Not all dental treatment is as extreme or expensive. Tooth decay can lead to tooth loss, but when caught early, the tooth can be fixed with more moderate treatment such as a filling, which is typically more affordable than tooth replacements.
Additionally, cosmetic dentistry, including teeth whitening & aesthetic treatment to straighten teeth, can greatly improve the value of your teeth, both by increasing your confidence & potentially preventing costly dental treatment in the future by making them easier to care for—& providing more incentive to do so.
The best way to avoid losing your adult teeth is to keep up with your brushing & flossing at home & make sure you don’t miss your six-month dental appointments. These practices cost a few minutes a day & about an hour or so every six months, but can save a lot of money in the long term by preventing tooth decay that can lead to tooth loss & other dental problems.
Additionally, make sure to replace your toothbrushes every few months & stay stocked on floss & fluoride rinse—the cost of doing so is minimal compared to the cost of replacing or repairing damaged teeth.
In the end, any time or money spent on your teeth is an investment. You need strong, healthy teeth to be able to eat the foods that will keep you healthy overall. Plus, a clean, bright smile does wonders for your confidence, no matter what age you are!
Some of the most important things you can do to maintain your oral health are to brush & floss your teeth & visit the dentist twice a year. But there are lots of ways you can change your everyday habits that will also improve your oral health!
Whether you’ve already had braces or are considering getting them, you might be wondering when people started using them. Luckily, we’re here to go over the interesting history of braces!
Discovering your baby has their first teeth coming in is an exciting moment. Taking care of those teeth early on can keep you & your child excited about their smile for years to come.
Grinding your teeth, or Bruxism, can lead to increased wear on your teeth and, if bad enough, can result in the need for restorative care if wear results in chipped teeth or a misaligned bite. There are several techniques that you and your dentist can do to stop grinding.
We’ve talked about foods that affect your oral health, but those discussions often boil down to the nutrients you get from those foods. Let’s take a closer look at those nutrients & exactly what foods provide them.
If you walk through an art gallery, you’ll notice that all the great paintings are held within beautiful frames. In some ways, the frame is just as important as the art; if you choose a frame that is too fancy or too plain, too colorful or too dull, it can detract from the beauty of the art.
