We were thrilled we could chat with dental hygienist Linnea Law.
Now, we here at VestaVamps have pretty good dental habits, remembering to brush twice a day and flossing when we can, but we were shocked by how much we didn't know! For example, did you know most cavities aren't caused by sugar? Or that keeping your teeth and gums healthy promotes overall health? Read on for lots of useful information!
VestaVamps: Let's start with basic care. How many times a day should a person brush his or her teeth? What about flossing?
Linnea Law: Everyone should brush two times a day for two minutes each. Ideally that would be after breakfast and before you go to bed. Flossing is important one time a day.
VV: Is there a type of candy or sugar that is worse for your teeth than others?
LL: It's actually carbohydrates that are bad for your teeth. So pretzels and crackers are just as bad for your teeth as sticky candy. More than anything it is the frequency that you eat. Every time you eat a carbohydrate, the plaque on your teeth produces acid for 20 minutes. It is the acid that causes demineralization in the teeth which is the precursor to decay. So the more frequently you eat, the more often you produce acid and the more chance for decay.
VV: What's the difference between a mouthwash like Listerine and one with fluoride? Which is better for you?
LL: Listerine is antibacterial so it can microscopically reduce the plaque in your mouth. A mouthwash like ACT or SmartRinse has fluoride. The fluoride is incorporated into the enamel and makes it harder so the acids that are produced by the plaque cannot cause demineralization as quickly. The fluoride in these mouthwashes is a low concentration, so for it to be most effective it should be used daily. For children and decay-prone adults, the fluoride mouthwashes are better. The antibacterial rinses are for adults with gum disease. These commonly have alcohol in them so young children should not use them.
VV: What are the most common mistakes you see people make with their oral care?
LL: People usually give the chewing surfaces of their teeth the most attention while brushing when they really need to be spending the majority of their brushing time getting at their gumline, both on the tongue side as well as the cheek and lip side. The second thing is people need to floss! It is the only way to clean in between the teeth. By not flossing, you are missing two out of the five surfaces of each tooth which can easily result in bleeding, swollen gums. Gum disease has been linked to many health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and premature labor. Daily removal of plaque from all of the tooth surfaces will not only keep your gum tissue and teeth healthy, but will promote your overall good health as well.
VV: Who should use sensitive toothpaste? Should they also use soft toothbrushes?
LL: Everyone should use a soft toothbrush. The bristles will flex easily and can go underneath the gum tissue which is the ideal spot to brush. The harder bristles won't flex and will abrade the gum tissue as well as the tooth surfaces. People with teeth that are sensitive to cold or have some exposed root surfaces due to abrasion are welcome to use sensitive toothpastes.
VV: Speaking of toothbrushes, are the fancier ones really better for you? How should one go about choosing what type of toothbrush is best for him or her?
LL: Studies have shown that the fancier toothbrushes really don't do a better job. If you have a tendency to brush too hard, an ultrasonic brush can be beneficial because it can help reduce toothbrush abrasion. Overall, it is all in the technique that you use. Choose any soft toothbrush and brush gently at your gumline for two minutes two times a day. Don't forget to use floss daily as well!
VV: How important are regular visits to your dentist if you're teeth don't bother you?
LL: Prevention is the name of the game. Your regular visits will hopefully keep you from having any dental issues, but will also allow you to catch any problems when they are small, before they start to hurt and are less expensive to fix.
VV: Any final advice as we all get ready to be inundated with Halloween candy?
LL: Just remember that it is the frequency that you eat that causes decay. So it is helpful to incorporate the candy as dessert at mealtime. This way if you have one piece or five, the acid production is the same.
Originally published October 2009
