Off the top of your head, do you know the following information about yourself:
- Weight
- Blood Pressure
- Cholesterol
- Height
My guess is you for sure know how much you weigh and your height. And if you have health concerns, you know your cholesterol and blood pressure as well. We know these numbers because it is how we judge our physical health.
What you may not realize is that part of your physical health is your oral health. So, here are some other numbers you should know off the top of your head to keep you up-to-date on the condition of your oral health.
ONE - When you think of the number ONE, think flossing. You should be flossing once a day, which usually takes less than ONE minute.
TWO - The number TWO reminds you to brush twice a day for TWO minutes each time.
THREE or FOUR - You should be replacing your toothbrush every THREE to FOUR months. Your mouth is a hotbed of germs. Think of everything you put into your mouth in just one day. Now think of what your toothbrush has touched in a THREE to FOUR month time frame. Get a new toothbrush!
EIGHTEEN - This number represents the length in inches of the floss you should be using each day. Don’t skimp on the length of your floss or you are just moving the germs from one tooth to the next.
FORTY-FIVE - This number should remind you of proper brushing technique. Hold your toothbrush at FORTY-FIVE degrees when you brush. Remember to brush gently. You aren’t mad at your teeth, so don’t brush angrily and keep that FORTY-FIVE degree angle.
THIRTY FIVE MILLION - This is the number of people who are edentulous, meaning they are missing many of their own teeth. To avoid being grouped into this number, be sure to remember the other numbers as well as full mouth dental implants!
