As kids, the tooth fairy helped us celebrate the loss of a tooth. No matter how generous the tooth fairy was in those days - from quarters to five-dollar bills - you won’t be getting any money when you start losing your adult teeth. That’s why we find it important to take care our teeth, even when there’s no money involved. We want to show you exactly why taking care of your teeth is important, and how you can do it with only a few minutes out of your day.

The Consequences of Not Taking Care of Your Teeth

In a recent study, one out of three Americans ages 50-64 find the condition of their teeth embarrassing. An even bigger percentage reported tooth pain, eating difficulties and other health problems in the last two years. A major highlight of the study is nearly half of all respondents don’t seek regular cleanings or properly care for their teeth at home.

Giving yourself time to clean your teeth thoroughly daily is the first step to having them last a lifetime. Not doing so can lead to dire consequences, first of which is tooth decay and rotten teeth. Tooth decay is irreversible, and the only way to solve it is to extract the dying tooth and replace it with a dental implant. Now, dental implants are the number one solution to replacing or restoring a missing tooth, but they don’t solve poor oral health habits. Lax dental care is the leading cause of gingivitis and periodontitis, two diseases that aren’t light on the health of your gums. Some people's’ cases are so serious, they’re unfit for dental implant candidacy as their gums are just too far gone.

With tooth decay comes embarrassment and lower levels of confidence. An ill smile speaks a thousand words about what kind of person you are. After all, if you’re not going to put the time and effort to take care of your own teeth, how do you think other people are going to feel about that?

Stay on Top of the Health of Your Teeth

Even if you’re without a tooth, you still have every reason to begin taking care of your teeth now! We have 5 tips for you to integrate into your lifestyle to help improve the health of your teeth.

Brush Properly! Brushing your teeth isn’t a 10 second ordeal, so take the full 2 minutes that’s recommended by every dentist ever. Start by brushing in a circular motion 15-20 times over each tooth – including the front, top and back sides. Angling your toothbrush inwards allows the bristles on your toothbrush to clean out where your teeth meet your gums, where bacteria most commonly finds itself. Afterwards, don’t forget to scrub your tongue and the roof of your mouth to disrupt the development of bacteria in these parts.

Don’t Forget to Floss! Flossing is important, more than any study will prove otherwise. Without flossing, you’re only giving 60% of your teeth a good cleaning. In between your teeth is more than chunks of food that’ve been there all day. They’re breeding grounds for bacteria to develop and cause potential harm to both your teeth and gums. Flossing can take as little as a minute with good practice, so make sure to not push too deep into your gums and move along your floss as you go from tooth to tooth.

Avoid Sodas and Other Sugary Beverages. Sugar is the silent killer of teeth, and is in nearly all fountain drinks. Sodas are the cause of turning pearly white teeth to dull and discolored ones. If you’re an avid soda drinker, it may be time to switch to a healthier beverage, like milk. Milk is great for strengthening your teeth by reinforcing your enamel and building a better, brighter and healthier smile.

Ditch the Tobacco! As if all the commercials about the consequences of smoking weren’t enough, the effects of tobacco on your teeth are obvious. Bad breath, yellow or brown teeth, even oral cancer are just byproducts of smoking. If you’re sincere about taking care of your teeth, quitting is the first step you must take.

Visit your Dentist. Overcoming your fear of the dentist is a big push towards taking care of your teeth. We recommend coming in for cleaning every 6 months or twice a year for the matter. The dentist will also take thorough X-Rays to identify and further problems with your teeth that have arisen.