The Truth About Tooth Care

October 7 marked this year’s World Smile Day, an annual celebration of artist Harvey Ball’s iconic work, the smiley face. Born in 1963, the smiley face is considered one of the most recognizable symbols in the world, and in an attempt to prevent the beloved icon from losing its meaning to over-commercialization, Ball campaigned for every first Friday in October be the World Smile Day.

Graphic designer and ad man Harvey Ball drew what would be the world-famous smiley face more than 50 years ago.
Photo from www.tested.com

Ball encourages people to make every World Smile Day a day to do acts of kindness and to make others smile. Get started with smiling and making other people crack a grin by knowing fun facts about your pearly whites and how to take good care of them!

The Truth about Your Tooth and Toothpaste

Once upon a time, our ancestors would only grind roots and twigs with their teeth to clean their mouth but thanks to technology, we now have a wide range of toothpastes and toothbrushes at our disposal. Read on and learn fun facts about teeth and oral care and remember them the next time you chew fat with friends and family!

• Your tooth enamel is the hardest part of your body.
• Every set of teeth is unique. Just like fingerprints and tongue prints, no two people have the same set of teeth.
• Prior to the invention of toothpaste, our ancestors would use chalk, charcoal, mixtures of honey and tobacco and crushed shells as toothpaste. Ancient Greeks eventually used pumice, talc, alabaster, coral powder and even iron rust to clean their teeth.
• The origins of toothbrush is said to have started in Ancient China, where they pieced a stick of bamboo together with boar bristles to clean their teeth.
• Hesi-Re was the first known dentist and he lived in Egypt for about 5,000 years ago. Speaking of dentists, did you know that pliers were used to extract teeth (Ouch!)? Also, prior to the conception of proper dentistry, those who had toothaches went to the citizens who had proper tools for pulling out teeth—the blacksmiths and barbers.

Brush Up on Basic Oral Care

As they say, it takes only 17 muscles to smile and 43 to frown but wouldn’t it be nicer if it’s a healthy set of sparkling teeth you flash with every grin? Keep your family’s smiles happy and healthy all the time by sticking on these oral care essentials!

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
Many of us grew up being told to brush after every meal and while this is still encouraged, dentists also approve of brushing your teeth at least twice a day. Dentists also recommend using a fluoridated toothpaste to help fight cavities, plaque and tartar, and to use a toothbrush with soft or medium bristles. Brush the entire surface of your teeth, including the inside surfaces, and brush your tongue lightly, too!

Be careful not to overbrush your teeth, though. Too much brushing can make your teeth’s enamel wear off which may lead to sensitivity and receding gums.

2. Follow through with floss.
Your toothbrush can only do so much and there would be times when plaque or tiny bits of food would be wedged between your teeth. Make sure that your teeth are cleaned thoroughly by flossing at least once a day. You may also opt to use interdental brushes if there are gaps between your teeth.

3. Stock up on calcium.

We all know that milk is good for your bones but did you know your teeth are happy too whenever you chug down a carton of this dairy goodness? Calcium strengthens the tooth enamel and helps stabilize its repair. Aside from milk, cheese, yogurt and dark leafy greens make for good sources of calcium.

Orange juice is also rich in calcium but make sure you don’t exceed your citrus intake. While vitamin C is good for you, too much citrus can cause for enamel to erode and make teeth vulnerable to tooth decay in the long run.

4. Slow down on the sweet and the sticky.

Dentists encourage cutting back on sugar altogether as bacteria can and will thrive on sweet treats’ deposits that get stuck between the teeth. These bacteria break down the sugar which produces acid that can erode teeth’s enamel and may lead to cavities.

Remember that one too many times you gave into your chocolate craving before bed and didn’t brush? Your mouth and teeth do, so cut back on candies and sweets to help avoid tooth decay.

Chewy candies such as caramel and taffy tend to stick in between the teeth for a longer time, while hard candies also put you at risk of a chipped tooth.

5. Cut back on caffeine and carbonated drinks.

While it is true that tea, coffee, and soda can help you stay awake, too much of it can dry your mouth and stain your teeth. Now we’re not saying to go cold turkey but try to cut back on the sugar and balance your fluid intake by drinking plenty of water.

When it comes to taking care of your teeth, prevention is still better than cure. Remember to visit dentist at least once a year to make sure your dental health and need are covered.

Don’t forget to keep your smiles beautiful and happy by passing on kindness to others—not only will you look good, you’ll feel good too! Share with us in the comments box what made you smile today!

Sources:
World Smile Day
US National Institute of Aging: Taking Care of Your Teeth and Mouth
Overbrushing: Watch out for too much of a good thing
Oral Health Foundation
9 Foods that Damage Your Teeth
Sydney Paediatric Dentistry: Interesting Dental Facts and Trivia
World Health Organization: Prevention is better than cure