In this post from Jim Erpenbach DDS in Knoxville TN, we look at dental health routines, and what happens when they’re interrupted.
The most common times people stop to brush their teeth are morning and night – either before or after breakfast, after dinner, or at bedtime. Common concerns that come with this routine involve hiccups in the schedule, from family life, shift work or exhaustion.
Sometimes after dinner isn’t super cut and dried. Many families face irregular weeknight routines. As the school year progresses, some have games to attend, band concerts, play practice, youth groups or other weeknight commitments. An irregular schedule commonly disrupts regular dental maintenance.
Many people also have daily commutes or shift work to battle with. Due to the changing landscape of the job market and the greater variety in shift schedules, we see patients who are adjusting to irregularities in sleep patterns. This leads to exhaustion and often sleep takes priority over consistent brushing – either morning or night.
The most important time to brush is after eating sugar or carb-intensive foods. The reason is that these foods kickstart bacteria growth on the teeth, and so need vigilant attention.
Highly acidic foods weaken the enamel, so it is best to swish with water immediately after consuming acidic foods to cut down the acid. Then brush about 30 minutes later when the mouth is less acidic. The fluoride in toothpaste helps remineralize the enamel.
Regular checkups are essential for catching decay, infection or other problems early. That’s why we tell our patients to see us every six months for a cleaning and checkkup. At Jim Erpenbach DDS in Knoxville TN we provide family and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule your next appointment with us today.
Contact Jim Erpenbach DDS:
865-329-7815
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
6311 Kingston Pike, Ste 8W
Knoxville, Tennessee
37919
