If someone you love isn’t taking as good a care of their smile, here’s what you can do to fix that. When our family, friends, loved ones, and coworkers fall behind in their brushing and flossing routine, it can sometimes be difficult not to notice. Plaque can cake up white and visible on the enamel. Food can get trapped between the teeth and remain all day, maybe even into the next. Teeth start to discolor and yellow, especially if you notice them frequently having a cup of joe in the morning or making midday Starbucks runs. And, of course, there’s the number one tell: terrible breath. So how do you convince them they need to start brushing and flossing their teeth more often? Be Honest Telling someone they should take better care of their dental health can be awkward for everyone involved. You may be tempted to beat around the bush, but hedging around the truth with coy hints doesn’t always work. Instead, you should rip off the bandaid and tell them. Be straightforward, but be nice too. If you know a particular communication style works with them, such as using a teasing tone or writing a note, go with your gut instincts. If the other person becomes defensive, don’t worry. It may be frustrating, but they’ll come around eventually. Just remain calm and patient, taking the time to explain your thoughts and answer any questions they may have for you. Explain The Risks Another way to get someone to take better care of their teeth is to explain the consequences if they don’t. After all, the person who benefits the most from great hygiene habits isn’t you; it’s them. Let them know how plaque, bacteria, and tartar can build up and quickly turn into a cavity, toothache, or periodontal disease. At their worst, the tooth and its supporting foundation may become so severely damaged and diseased that the teeth need to be extracted. However, even the more innocent-seeming problems can grow into something worse. Bad breath might appear to be nothing more than a missed day of brushing their teeth or eating something with garlic or onions. However, in many cases, chronic lousy breath (halitosis) can be a sign of greater dental and general health issues, like cavities, gum disease, pneumonia, diabetes, and liver and kidney problems. Bring In The Data Sometimes people need to see things to believe it. For some people, you may need to take a picture of their smile as evidence. While they may feel like their inadequate brushing and flossing makes no real difference, a picture is worth a thousand words. By allowing them to see what the world does—visible plaque, yellow teeth, white enamel spots, and all—you can often inspire them to do something about their smiles. And if pictures aren’t enough, you may need to bring in the cold, hard facts to let the reality of their poor hygiene habits set in. Gum Disease 64.7 million (46%) of Americans over 30 have some form of gum disease, with about 9% suffering from severe periodontitis. Your chances of developing periodontal disease only increases with time—over 70% of people 65 years and older have it. Patients who smoke, have diabetes, or are pregnant are at a higher risk of developing gingivitis and other gum diseases. Cavities and Dental Decay According to the American Dental Association, 91% of all adults 20 years and older have had a cavity. 27% currently have at least one cavity that they need to take care of. Dental decay is so pervasive and insidious that even children aren’t immune to it. An estimated 1 in 5 kids have at least one untreated cavity. Tooth Loss Excluding wisdom teeth, one-third of Americans have at least one missing permanent tooth. Altogether, this totals 178 million people. 3 in 10 people between the ages of 64 and 75 have had all of their teeth extracted.

Maintaining Excellent Dental Hygiene When coming across someone else with poor dental hygiene, it can be all too common to wonder whether your brushing and flossing routine is up to par. You can do the smell test to check how bad your breath is and regularly check your smile for discolored spots, pits, or toothaches. However, a stinky mouth or some tooth pain can’t tell you everything. You must stick to the recommended oral hygiene techniques and tips and visit your dental hygienist regularly for a dental cleaning. Brushing Whether or not they put it into practice, most people know that they should be brushing their teeth twice a day. With three meals each day, plaque and bacteria can accumulate quickly on the teeth. With frequent snackers, it’s even faster. Being attentive and using the right brushing techniques can be vital for limiting how long it has to attack your smile. When brushing, stick to circular strokes rather than straight vertical or horizontal ones. You’ll want to be gentle so that the toothbrush bristles can effortlessly slide beneath the gums and remove trapped food and plaque. How long should you brush your teeth? Whether you’re late for work or ready to hit the sack, you don’t want to be too hasty when brushing your teeth. Studies show that you should brush your teeth for a total of two minutes each time. This lets you give each tooth and surface the individual care and attention necessary to clear all plaque and bacteria. Flossing Plaque, bacteria, and food particles don’t just get stuck on the tooth’s surface; they can slip between the roots and gums, becoming trapped underneath. To keep the small pocket between your teeth and gums clean, you will need to floss at least once daily. While this might seem like a simple enough task, the reality is that only 13% of Americans floss their teeth every day. Flossing is about more than a quick up and down motion between the teeth. How you use your dental floss can be just as critical to your oral health. These are a few things to keep in mind: Use "C" motions to weave the floss on either side of the gum. This allows you to reach deeper down the roots while never missing a spot. Don’t ration your floss. You don’t want to use the same section of floss for all of your teeth. Most people need about 18 inches to prevent repeats. Failing to floss as you should daily is one of the leading causes of gingivitis. As plaque and tartar build up, they suffocate and inflame the gums. Gingivitis might not seem very serious since it can be reversed and cured with two weeks of solid flossing and brushing. However, gingivitis can worsen into later gum disease stages, which steadily work to destroy the gum tissue and bones securing your teeth.

Fluoride You should also make sure to give your teeth an extra layer of protection against bacteria and decay with fluoride treatment. Fluoride is a mineral that prevents certain oral bacteria from developing on your teeth while also slowing down the harm caused by the remaining bacteria. Fluoridated water, toothpastes, and mouthwashes allow you to boost your teeth's defenses significantly. Fluoride treatment is also commonly recommended for patients with early tooth decay. With fluoride toothpastes and mouthwashes especially, you can remineralize your teeth and reverse some or even all of your tooth decay. Can you make a cavity go away? Unfortunately, once the physical pit of a dental cavity forms, simple fluoride won't be enough. You'll need to see your dentist for professional dental work. Your dentist will need to remove the diseased parts of the tooth and fill the hole left behind with a filling or crown. Which one you may need depends on the damage's extent. Hygiene Appointments The unfortunate truth is that no matter how hard you try, you can't always do everything yourself perfectly. That's why your dentist regularly schedules a dental hygiene visit to ensure your smile is squeaky clean and healthy. Is it OK to go to the dentist once a year? No. You should attend dental hygiene appointments at least twice a year. In the six months between teeth cleaning and exam visits, plaque can still collect on your teeth, even if you're an excellent brusher and flosser. For patients with a colorful history full of dental health issues, buildup can appear even faster. In this case, we may recommend that you have your teeth professionally cleaned every three or four months. Additionally, if you have severe gum disease, you may need additional frequent deep cleanings. What is a deep cleaning? A deep cleaning goes further down than your dental hygienist usually does, scraping the roots clean of any buildup below the gum line before smoothing the roots. These deep cleanings are needed as often as regular dental cleanings, but they may require multiple visits to complete.