BY: MURPHY GARCIA, Editor
One of the most important parts to the body is the mouth. Because it is the food and oxygen transportation for the body, it needs to stay healthy.
Flossing is one of the best thing one can do to clean teeth. Brushing will keep the top surface of the teeth clean, but flossing gets in between the teeth, reaching the parts a toothbrush cannot. The time before going to bed is the most important time to floss because tissues inflame and bacteria is most active at night.
Sophomore Aislinn Lodwig admitted that she flosses about once a week.
“Sometimes, my gums bleed when I floss,” Lodwig said.
Many have excuses for not flossing every day, but once it is a habit it will be easier. Flossing helps prevent gum diseases such as gingivitis and cavities between the teeth. Although it may not be common knowledge, cavities form in between the teeth because the toothbrush doesn’t reach that far. Most of the time this occurs in a teenager when they are going through adolescence and their hormones are at their highest.
According to dental hygienist Annie Nardone, the best way to floss is to “hug each tooth and bring [the floss] up into the gum line until you feel resistance then do the other side. If your gums bleed, that is an area that needs attention because the gums are releasing bacteria.”
When brushing teeth, the bristles of the toothbrush shouldn’t be too hard because it will wear the gums away. This also happens by brushing too forcefully. When brushing the front teeth, a circular motion is arguably the best. The process should be a minimum of two minutes (maximum three minutes).
“Electric toothbrushes are recommended because they maintain integrity in gums,” Nardone said.
After both morning and night brushes, rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash so it can kill bacteria for a minimum of 30 seconds.
If after waking up in the morning, the teeth or jaw hurt, it’s most likely due to grinding. Grinding the teeth frequently occurs from stress. In order to keep teeth from wearing down, form fitting mouth guards can be worn, made especially for an individual’s mouth.
Choosing the right toothpaste is important too. Natural toothpastes and mouthwashes are the best because they don’t contain the chemicals a whitening toothpaste would. Mouth products with harsh chemicals in them can cause sensitivity in teeth. There are other ways to whiten teeth besides toothpastes, like getting them whitened at the dentist.
“I use whitening toothpaste and the only difference I see is when I drink coffee,” freshman Ashley Garcia said.
Remember to get an annual checkup at the dentist where they will clean teeth, check for cavities, take x-rays and give you an ending fluoride solution to make the enamel stronger.
It is important to take care of the mouth because, believe it or not, it can add years to each life.
