A healthy mouth is not only essential to maintain a good state of physical health, but also to improve our mood and boost our self-esteem. And it is that some defective teeth or certain oral diseases can directly affect our self-esteem in an important way. Surely, you’ve seen many times people who cover their mouths with their hands when laughing because they feel ashamed of showing teeth that are misaligned or yellowish in colour. Also, those who have just put on braces or dental appliances.

Here at Parkwood Green Dental we can help you with any issue you may have related to dental health. Contact us today and let us help you with your problem or just to have one of our check-ups.

The state of our mouth and insecurity

It is true that oral problems cause us a lot of insecurity. Sometimes we dare not talk very close to someone, for fear of suffering halitosis and the other person rejects us. Other times, it is the colour of our teeth that makes us avoid smiling, or misaligned teeth, or certain diseases of the gums. The fact is that the smile says a lot about us and it is normal that our self-esteem is affected when we have an oral problem.

Luckily, nowadays there are a lot of dental treatments that can solve almost any problem, either aesthetic or oral health. If what causes you insecurity in your social relationships is the colour of your teeth, the ideal thing to do is to perform a professional teeth whitening, in addition to trying to avoid those habits such as smoking or drinking coffee, which both stain the teeth.

Another frequent problem is a bad alignment of the teeth, which means that when smiling, we show uneven teeth. For these cases, the best solution is aesthetic orthodontics. And nowadays you do not have to worry about the striking aspect of orthodontics or braces, since you can get practically invisible treatments. Although orthodontics tend to have a high price, you have to ask yourself how much the appearance of your teeth affects your life and your self-esteem.

Clarifying how often you should change your toothbrush

Experts say that toothbrushes should be changed by a new one every 3 months. If there is one thing that all dentists agree on is that for a correct oral hygiene it is necessary to change the toothbrush every three months. However, there are people who brush their teeth very hard and therefore, the bristles of their brushes are left open and broken long before this recommended period. Therefore, if you use a brush of medium stiffness and before three months it is deteriorated, this is a sign that you are brushing your teeth too hard, something that is not good because it can damage the pieces and the gums.

Consequences of not changing the toothbrush

• Not changing toothbrushes every three months can be harmful to health, because in the gums, fungi and bacteria proliferate, causing periodontal diseases. This should not be surprising, because in the mouth there are about 150 species of bacteria. In addition, the microorganisms found in sows proliferate even more in bathrooms, due to humidity.

• In addition to the proliferation of microorganisms, the change of toothbrush every three months is also recommended to maintain proper oral hygiene, as the bristles are weakened and break with the uses, so that a brush in poor condition will not eliminate the Plaque of the teeth cannot access correctly to all corners, with the consequent danger of the appearance of decay.

• Another determining factor to advance the brush change is to have had a cold, a mouth or throat infection, since germs can be stored between the bristles and reactivate the infection again.

How to keep the toothbrush in good condition

• Once you have finished using your toothbrush, it is necessary to rinse it well under the water jet and shake it vigorously to place it in its vertical position and dry before its next use.

• Dentists recommend that toothbrushes be stored in dry places, away from sources of heat and avoid contact with other people’s brushes, hence the convenience of depositing each brush of family members in different containers.

• Another tip, although it may seem weird, is to keep them as far away as possible from the toilet, even in another room. Something that may seem surprising, because everyone has our brushes in the bathroom, but it makes sense if we consider that usually there are faecal bacteria in toothbrushes. An effective way to avoid this contamination is to close the lid before pulling the chain.

• In addition, specialists warn not to keep the brush inside the cap, as the filaments must dry properly in the air and prevent the proliferation of moisture, which is the ideal breeding ground for bacterial growth. The cap should only be used to transport the brush correctly on trips and that the bristles do not get crushed or deformed. Once arrived at the place of destination, the brush should be removed from the cap and leave the filaments in the air.

Recommendations for proper oral health

The state of the toothbrush is important for maintaining proper oral health, but it is not the only one: brushing for at least two minutes and at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and, especially, first thing in the morning and before sleep; Flossing is also very important, once a day; and to go to the dentist every six months to make revisions and to make deep cleanings following the recommendations and the periodicity advised by your trustworthy specialist are other of the necessary guidelines.

Undoubtedly, if you want the appearance of your teeth does not affect your self-esteem, the best option is to take a proper oral hygiene daily and not skip any of the appointments with the dentist at Parkwood Green Dental. He will be the one who will advise you on the treatment that suits you according to your dental problem.