Making Your Teeth Last For a Lifetime

By Michael E. King, DDS

Michael King DDS (Mira Dental Care)

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Making Your Teeth Last For a Lifetime

How do you make your teeth last a lifetime? I have the answer. It starts and ends with how you take care of them.

Do you have a car? If so, chances are you probably get the oil changed regularly and get it maintained regularly.

You do this because you want the car to last as long as possible. Your teeth need the same love and attention. If you do not give it to them, you may lose them.

I have made a scale. It goes like this; “Ten” is the strongest your teeth will ever be (no cavities, etc). “Zero” is the weakest. When you get a cavity the strength of the tooth drops to maybe a “three”.

When you get the cavity filled, the strength goes back up to maybe an “eight”.

It will never get back up to a “ten” because now the tooth has a “man made” part in it (the filling), which requires more care by you at home. If you continue the same care you did when you got the cavity, the tooth will break down faster.

Make sense?

How do you make your teeth last after you have gotten fillings and crowns places? Easy, you just have to increase your care.

How do you do this? First you must reduce the amount of time food is on your teeth. Think about how many times a day you currently brush and floss after meals.

If you brush before the meal your teeth are only clean until the time you eat or drink again.

Your goal is to increase the amount of time your teeth are clean throughout the day.

You do this by adding brushing and flossing at

opportune times, specifically after you eat.

If you are still getting cavities and are brushing and flossing twice per day, think about when you brush and floss (is it after meals?) and how many times per day.

You may have to increase the amount of times you brush if twice a day is not working.

These above tools should help you stay in good standing with your dentist on your next checkup.

Happy brushing and flossing.