The Today Show recently discussed six common household items that likely need to be replaced more regularly than we usually do. They discuss more frequent replacement of mattresses, running shoes, kitchen sponges, bath towels, eye makeup, and your toothbrush. For our purposes today, we will discuss when to replace your toothbrush (or toothbrush head for electric brushes) and why it is important.
We all deal with stress. The causes may vary, but perception is reality and we will always deal with some form of stress throughout our lives. So we need to find healthy ways to deal with or manage our stressors. If not, it could lead to health problems like irritable bowel syndrome, excessive sweating, hair loss, insomnia, fatigue, and teeth grinding.
Toothbrushes should be left out in the open. It is not difficult to clean your toothbrush. Rinse it after brushing with tap water and then remove any remaining toothpaste or debris. Store the brush standing upright to allow it to air dry. If you store near other tooth brushes, do your best to make sure they are separated to prevent contamination between them. Unless you are traveling, try not to store them in closed containers. A moist environment is more favorable to bacterial growth.
Be sure to look for the ADA seal of approval when selecting your toothbrush. The ADA stands for the American Dental Association and is the gold standard in toothbrush quality. It is the most predictable way to know if your toothbrush will hold up to normal wear and tear, and if it will work effectively when brushing with proper technique.
Trendy Diets May Negatively Affect Oral Health Over the years we have heard about all of the different types of crash diets to help lose weight. There has been the Atkin’s diet, a juice cleanse, and now the Paleo diet. I am not here to tell you what diet you should or should not try.…
ADA, Federal Agencies, and Dentists Still Encourage Flossing A few months ago a study was released questioning the efficacy of flossing your teeth. Because of this, many people began to think that ‘science’ doesn’t support flossing. However, the Department of Health and Human services, the American Dental Association, and others have “reaffirmed the importance of…
What should I know when buying dental supplies for my family? When you walk down the ‘oral care’ aisle at any store, the number of options can be intimidating. There are so many different brands and variations of similar products. Hopefully we can help simplify the process. What kind of tooth brush should I buy?…
“I want to quit tobacco” Many people who have become addicted to using tobacco products want to stop. But as they can attest, that is much easier said than done. Everyone has been educated on the risks associated with tobacco use, but we want to reiterate how it can affect your dental and overall health.…
CDC Reports Benefits of Dental Sealants for Children Dental sealants are placed over the pits and fissures on the chewing surfaces of teeth. Their goal is to protect those surfaces from the start of tooth decay. As soon as the permanent molars erupt, we typically recommend placing sealants. Depending on how susceptible each individual’s teeth…
Antibiotic Overkill For many, conventional wisdom tells them to take antibiotics when they don’t feel well. They have been told they can go to the doctor or ‘Little Clinic’ to get a prescription for antibiotics. This will eventually make them feel better. But in many cases the antibiotics are taken after they already feel their…
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