Earlier this year, I went to the dentist where I received a rather harsh warning from the dental hygienist. It seems that I don’t brush my teeth for an adequate amount of time, nor do I floss enough. Then she added that I need to massage my gums with a gum pick and that using an electric toothbrush may not hurt either.

Well, what did hurt was the next 40 minutes of poking and prodding my gums endured with her stash of silver, sterilized instruments! I actually had tears streaming down my cheeks after that appointment.

On my way home, I stopped off at my favourite pharmacy to get an electric toothbrush. I vowed that the next dental appointment would be better if I just heed her professional advice. I just didn’t want to go through the pain again. The fact is, gum disease begins with plaque. Tartar build-up leads to infections which then cause the gums to breakdown. Without healthy gums, teeth may loosen and may eventually fall out without proper treatment. Who wants that to happen?

To follow the hygienist’s other recommendation, I will also floss more. The Canadian Dental Association recommends flossing daily to help remove the plaque between teeth that brushing alone cannot remove. If plaque is not removed within 24 to 36 hours, it turns into the harder material known as tartar. Okay, I’ll increase my flossing habits to reduce the amount of plaque and bacteria in my mouth.

So far, things seem to be going well. My gums bleed much less - bleeding is a symptom of gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease - and with my electric toothbrush, my teeth feel slick and smooth every day. That’s a good sign that less plaque is sticking to my enamel. Plus, it has a timer which ensures that I brush for at least two minutes each time.

Let’s see how my next visit goes. Hopefully, I won’t end up in tears if I follow this prescription for healthy teeth and gums. Prevention is the key!

Here are some more great tips to make your smile stay strong and healthy:
- 4 gum changes to notice
- Are you your tooth enamel’s worst enemy?
- 6 sipping and snacking habits that erode enamel
- 8 habits that can damage your teeth
- Tooth enamel TLC