Brushing Teeth All the Time

I will simply brush extra later is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot in my family.  It is in those times that habits get broken and teeth end up getting neglected.  This goes far beyond just clean and white teeth because the consequences of not brushing teeth end up being rather major.  If you skip too much brushing then your teeth will likely erode and cavities will start to form.  

The erosion of your teeth can cause lots of other issues like halitosis and even gum disease.  The main issue to me is that if you stop your routines and start breaking them, then you will end up spending lots more money at the dentist in an emergency situation.  The cost of toothpaste is much less per year than a cavity filling or a route canal.  So try not to skip a tooth brushing.  One of the times that teeth get neglected the most is on vacation.  So I want to go over a few tips on how to stay in your routine.

 

The family loves to go on vacation, but keeping that joy and enthusiasm for basic dental hygiene is hard.  I know that my kids like to be excited and each trip we like to mix it up to stay excited about dental health.  This not only goes for my kids but my wife and I as well.  I enjoy getting us a new toothbrush set up each trip.  This seems silly, but we all get excited about new travel toothbrushes.  I like to get toothbrushes that have suction cups on the bottom end.  I like to have this because I don't need to store the brush in a bag after I am done.  The toothbrush cases are nasty in my opinion and still get dirty.  I think just being able to brush my teeth and slap my brush on the counter when I am done and not have it fall over is amazing. 

 

I like to go to the local big-box grocery store and hit up their travel aisle.  It turns out that most places have different kinds of branded brushes that usually are really fun.  I have done trips with star wars character on the toothbrush.  It is fun to brush with Yoda and Darth Vader and have your kids get excited about doing voices with the brushes.  After a super long day at the vacation spot, most people are not excited to go and brush their teeth. But if you have some cool brushes waiting for you it is so much easier.  It is these times where lots of people don't brush.  They simply go to sleep and forget to brush and say they will do it in the morning.  Well on vacation is when we usually eat bad food that is filled with sugar and this is where we should be brushing the most. 

 

Don't let these little skips take you out of your habit. Instead, get things that help you and your family to keep your habit and stay in a great dental health routine.  Saving money, in the long run, is what you are doing by staying on track in the short run.  You are avoiding trips to the dentist, X-rays, and cavity fillings. So stay safe, and be healthy.

Bad Breath and Dental Hygiene

It seems that the realization of bad breath has become a big deal in 2020.  With the number of people wearing face masks due to the local and state regulations, people are starting to notice bad breath.  The hard part is when you realize that you have bad breath.  So the real name for bad breath is halitosis and it is a major problem that most Americans are realizing that they have.  It turns out that bad breath can be the cause of a lot of dietary or dental problems, but a good dental routine can help overcome those issues and get you on the track to smelling good in your face mask.

There are a lot of different smells and some people find it hard to know if they actually have bad breath.  I suggest that you ask a loved one or spouse first to see if you have bad breath.  If your family is anything like mine then you have already been told.  But some sense of smell is different and the causes can vary. So ask around but don't be weird about it. If you find out you do have bad breath then start working on your dental routine.

The first thing to do is to drink lots of water.  Make sure you are staying hydrated and that is a great start to healthcare.  The reason to do this is to keep rinsing your mouth and getting those unwanted food particles and drinks away from your teeth.  Staying hydrated also allows you to produce the correct amount of saliva which also cleans your teeth.  This keeps unwanted food particles away and keeps your mouth much safer.  I suggest taking hydration seriously and keeping a water bottle with you.  I don't like the idea of using plastic water bottles that are disposable.  I think that is bad for the environment and simply wasteful.  Instead, get a long term water bottle or stainless steel container to carry your water in.  For myself, I find that I drink more water when I like the bottle that its in and keep it with me.  If you work in an office, there are lots of classy water bottles and some that are downright fancy.  It is a great conversation starter as well for businesses.

 

Another great thing to do that can cut down on bad breath is to start flossing.  This I have always found to be kinda nasty and that is a big reason why I didn't do it for years.  Luckily, technology has invented flossing brushes.  These little devices allow you to reach your whole mouth without touching the string and I love it.  The other end also has a toothpick so if there is some stuck food that is not able to be gotten by the floss then there is still hope.  I think this is another great way to keep your mouth clean and your breath fresh.

 

Finally, the next thing to do is to brush your teeth more.  This is something that we all try to do but also start adding in your tongue as well.  If you are able to add an extra brush into your daily routine you may be able to strengthen your teeth and rock dental hygiene.  If this does not work then see your dentist or healthcare provider!