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Don’t Be Afraid to Change Your Toothbrush

Are you delaying swapping out your frayed toothbrush for a new model? Well, don’t be! My Douglasville dental office wants you to know that it’s in the best interest of your oral and overall health to make the change to a new toothbrush. We understand that sometimes it’s easy to forget, so here’s a reminder to check the status of your brush.

It’s A Switch’y’ Situation

The wayward, battered bristles clinging to life on your favorite toothbrush are actually a lot less effective at helping your teeth get clean. The American Dental Association (ADA) has these helpful recommendations (and my dental office in Douglasville couldn’t agree more):

Change your brush every three to four months.
Make the switch earlier if bristles start to breakdown.
Children need new brushes more frequently than grownups.

Breaking Down the Bacteria Connection

Some researchers and doctors say that toothbrushes create the perfect environment for bacteria to set up shop. The ADA says that toothbrushes are susceptible to bacterial transfer from the mouth or the air, but it isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. Why? Because our bodies are regularly exposed to germs and are uniquely equipped to defend ourselves from attack.

How to Keep Your Toothbrush Clean

There are few ways you can help keep bacteria in the bathroom at bay and away from your toothbrush.

Never share your toothbrush with anyone, even family members. Bacteria could be there no matter who you’re sharing with.

Use good ol’ tap water to rinse away unwanted debris and leftover toothpaste that can give bacteria something to grab onto.

Keep your toothbrush standing upright when not in use for maximum germ-free storage and the benefits of a good air-drying.

Separate your family’s brushes when they’re not being used.

Steer clear of toothbrush covers that can create an arid environment where germs can easily multiply.

Your Douglasville dentist knows how important it is to keep your smile healthy. The same goes for your toothbrush. By making the change regularly and storing it properly, you can ensure your teeth are getting the thorough, germ-free cleaning they need to stay strong.

Accepting new patients from Douglasville, Lithia Springs, and Villa Rica.

4 Little-Known Facts About Straws

Our dental office in Douglasville wants to share a little known secret with you, and it’s something so easy, so common, and even may seem a bit silly, but can do wonders to help keep your smile healthy. It’s a straw. And when you choose to use a straw instead of sipping drinks straight from a cup, it can actually help keep bacteria and cavities from damaging your teeth.

Learn more about straw power by digesting these interesting facts. Our Douglasville dental office is pleased to share them with you as another way you can help protect your teeth from decay.

Straw Fact #1 – Help Keep Teeth Stain-Free

Using a straw when enjoying your favorite beverage is good idea to help protect teeth against common staining, especially when there’s long-term exposure to dark-colored drinks like coffee and tea that are consumed daily. By using a straw, you can help avoid constant and direct contact with your front teeth and do your best to keep your smile white.

<h3?Straw Fact #2 – Great Exposure Control

Much like protection your teeth from stains, using a straw can control how much direct exposure drinks have on your smile. It’s all about directing these materials away from your teeth. Even though some contact does occur, it’s minimized when you’re slurping through a straw. This means less bacteria and sugar actually stick to your smile which limits the likelihood of decay.

Straw Fact #3 – Increased Chances of Avoiding Germs

Did you know cups, both at home and in restaurants, can host germs even if they look clean? You can avoid these germs and bacteria by sticking a straw in your cup instead of putting your mouth directly on it to sip.

Straw Fact #4 – Avoid Choking and Burns

Straws can be a real mouth and tooth saver when you’re drinking a hot beverage. These small, plastic tubes allow you to take in smaller amounts of liquid at a time which can help you avoid mouth burns and also reduce the risk for choking.

Your dentist in Douglasville does everything possible to help you keep your teeth healthy. We hope you will do the same. Using a straw is just another simple change you can make to your daily routine that could help benefit your smile. Don’t forget to brush and floss too!

Accepting new patients from Douglasville, Lithia Springs, and Villa Rica.