Most people today describe themselves as busy. This may be an understatement. Life often demands that we do our best to keep up with a nearly-chaotic pace. To do so means going to bed tired, perhaps nightly. It may also mean shuffling priorities and give less of our attention to activities that are important to our well-being. For example, the busier we are, the less we may sleep. When we are busy and tired, we may overlook that nighttime toothbrushing and flossing as unnecessary. This could be a huge mistake.
“Twice-a-Day:” Advice with a Purpose
How many times have we all heard that we should be brushing our teeth morning and night, every single day? Since we can remember! The reason that we brush at all is that an invisible biofilm called plaque accumulates on and around teeth with alarming regularity. To date, the best way to stay ahead of plaque formation is with two-minute tooth-brushing sessions. So, not brushing means letting plaque sit on enamel, where it causes deterioration.
In case you didn’t know, a plaque is a mixture of saliva, food particles, and bacteria. That means that there is a living aspect to this biofilm. The presence of plaque on teeth equates to the presence of acid because bacteria produce acid. Plaque also changes over time, hardening into a calcified form we call tartar, which is even harder to remove. The only way to get rid of tartar buildup is to see your dentist.
Here’s the thing about plaque and brushing twice each day: research has indicated that this biofilm builds up over a 24-hour period. So, brushing only once a day opens the door for the plaque. Brushing morning and night means removing debris and bacteria more quickly than accumulation can take place. It’s pretty simple, and it works.
Brushing at night is even more important because there is no dilution of acidity happening while we sleep. During the day, the acidity of the mouth is somewhat diluted when we drink water. Eating and chewing gum also diminish plaque because they coincide with saliva production, and saliva also acts as a disrupter to plaque and acidity.
We want to help you keep your mouth as healthy as possible because that means you can avoid painful situations and problems like bad breath. IN addition to your daily flossing habits, your smile benefits from routine dental care. To schedule your exam and cleaning in our Sherwood office, call (503) 925-9595.
