There are many people who think that kids start to need braces when they are only eight years old. However, unless a problem occurs that makes speech difficult or eating too hard, kids have small mouths and orthodontia may not be right for them. Allow your child’s mouth to reach adult size and you could end up saving much money.

Avoid soda. Sugar has a damaging effect on teeth, so choose water instead. This will improve your overall health and also give you great looking teeth.

Try a different toothpaste if you experience pain with cold or hot foods. Ask your dentist before switching to a toothpaste marketed for sensitive teeth. Your dentist might be able to help determine the cause.

Cavities come about when the enamel is weakened. Bacteria weakens your enamel and that can make cavities form. Visiting your dentist at least twice a year for a cleaning can help to prevent cavities. Your dentist can even take x-rays. These will help ensure that no new cavities are forming.

To protect your teeth from cavities, you need to brush multiple times each day. Make it a point to brush after you wake up, before you go to bed and after eating. If brushing after meals is not convenient, then chew some sugarless gum to clean your teeth as well as freshen your breath.

In the event of a tooth loss, keep the tooth. Do not throw it out. Clean the tooth by gently rinsing it. Try to fit it back into your mouth. If you cannot put it back in, place the tooth in a small amount of milk and try to get to a dentist immediately.

Let kids chew on their brushes. Although brushing properly is necessary to keep teeth clean, chewing on the toothbrush can help clean teeth a little bit. Not only that, but your kids are likely just getting used to the brushes. If you leave your child alone, he is going to allow you to help later.

Brush teeth for no less than two minutes. Each tooth should be brushed, beginning near your gum line and slowly moving upward to the top. Don’t risk damaging your gums or enamel by brushing too vigorously. You know you need a brush with softer bristles if your gums tend to hurt after brushing.

Have you thought of having your tongue pierced? Think over this again. No matter how good your oral hygiene may be, your mouth is still a perfect environment for bacteria and germs to breed and grow. Any type of oral piercing can slowly deteriorate your teeth’s enamel, which can cause infection. If your tongue becomes infected and you don’t receive treatment, you could lose a portion of your tongue. This is really not very chic!

A healthy diet can prevent vitamin deficiencies that may contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. If you don’t have a healthy mouth, think about getting more vitamin B, vitamin C, calcium and other nutrients that are related to oral health. Use natural sources like dairy and fruit to get the nutrients you need.

When talking about diets that dentist like, you may need to add some foods. Dairy products are high in calcium and help build strong teeth and bones. Broccoli is another food that is good for your teeth as well. Another food group you should be including is meat, which provides your gums with the protein it requires in order to heal properly.

As you read earlier, some parents mistakenly believe their kids need braces while still in primary school. It is important to wait until the jaws have attained ample growth. Sometimes, their adult teeth will be fine, even of they had minor issues with their baby teeth.