The Square Life

Braces and retainers may be behind you, but caring for your teeth has only begun. Oral health actually is closely-linked to your overall health. “A lot of people don’t think they’re related at all, but they are,” says Dr. James Barry, DDS, of Barry Family Dental Group in Orem. “If you brush your teeth and your gums bleed, that’s a problem. That lets bacteria into the blood stream. All kinds of health problems can occur because the teeth aren’t clean.” And the usual life lesson applies here too: daily maintenance and preventative efforts will pay dividends in the health department—and in the wallet. Here are six ways to emerge from your dentist’s office with a full-on smile:

VISIT A PROFESSIONAL
The bottom line in preventive medicine when it comes to oral health is the semi-annual visit to the hygienist. Especially for the young crowd, often without dental benefits, the visit can seem like more of a drain on the wallet than a boost. But, as Dr. Barry says, “Most people don’t brush enough or floss enough that they can go more than six months without a problem.” So in order to prevent further dental bills, pains, and regrets, go in for a regular polishing of those pearly whites.

FLOSS
It’s simple, but it may seem to be an extra tedious task. Running that string between your teeth not only removes buildup and food deposits, it also makes for stimulated, happy gums. Without daily flossing, acid builds up between teeth daily and is a top source of decay. So give it a run, every day.

BRUSH—BUT WHICH ONE?
Replace your toothbrush every three to four months because frayed bristles make for a less-productive toothbrush, advises the American Dental Association. Sonicare and other electronic toothbrushes are helpful because of their plaque-busting, far-reaching vibrations. They are also helpful for those who have a more difficult time with manual brushing, Dr. Barry says. Most of all: “Make sure that it’s a soft-bristled brush and that it’s used properly and as often as it should be,” he says.

TAKE A RINSE
Rinsing can give your oral health an extra boost. Dr. Barry says he typically recommends a fluoride rinse to those who are cavity-prone. As for the germ-busting Listerine swish, it can be helpful, but if done too frequently, it can erode the teeth.

KEEP IT AWAY
There are those foods to avoid, or foods which pose a greater danger—like the sugary ones. “Try to avoid those foods that stay stuck in your teeth, for example, bread and jam,” Dr. Barry says. And of course, the sooner one brushes, the sooner the lurking danger is cleared away.

BLEACH THEM OUT
Dental chairs have moved into the main drag of local malls to ensure the tooth-whitening opportunity is not missed. But effective teeth-bleaching can be as simple as using an at-home bleaching kit, which now has materials that don’t weaken teeth. “Now, bleaching is very common, and it’s not harmful to the tooth, so I think it’s a great thing,” Dr. Barry says.