Top 5 Dental Secrets You May Find Hard To Swallow

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Your dentist always tells you to brush and floss your teeth, but there are tips that the doctor could be leaving out that might improve your oral hygiene. The problem is, the reason he/she may leave them now is because they're not easy to follow every day.

Here are the top five secrets, which your dentist may or may not tell you, according to Dr. Nancy Rosen, a leading cosmetic and restorative dentist in New York City, as told to Good Morning America.

1. If you eat lunch or have a cup of coffee before heading to the dental chair, your dentist doesn’t really notice. But if you smoke, they will notice. Not only can they smell it, but the gum tissue is dry, there is staining and there are white patches in the mouth that can turn into Oral Cancer. So if you are lying to your dentist, you may want to reconsider.
   
   
2. Moms can pass on the bacteria from cavities or gum disease to their child. So if you are testing your child’s food and then using the same spoon to feed them, bacteria is being transferred.
   
   
3. Do you think you are brushing long enough? Most people only brush their teeth for around 30 seconds. You should be brushing two to three minutes and flossing one to two minutes. Don’t neglect your back teeth while doing either activity. A lot of people just brush their front teeth because that is all people see and can neglect those back teeth. Try one of those automatic tooth brushes that you can find at a drug store, CVS or etc. They are a little more expensive than a regular old tooth brush, but far less than a high velocity toothbrush like Sonicare. If you have a hard time reaching back teeth, try the floss pics.
   
   
4. Tooth whitening over the counter products are good. If you have sensitivity, use a fluoride rinse before and after. Don’t get frustrated and follow the directions on the box. You should only use these products every six months. Dentists can see translucency at the edge of the tooth if the products are used to often and this is irreversible. Try Crest white strips or even Rembrant, to cut costs.
   
   
5. You don’t always need a deep cleaning. You can get away with just a regular cleaning if the doctor says that your pocket depth is 3 or less; if it's higher --between 4 and 8-- you do need a deep cleaning.