### Tips for a Productive Dental Visit and Maintaining Healthy Teeth **1. Find the Right Dentist:** If visiting the dentist feels painful or scary, it might be time to find a new one. A good dentist will make the experience as positive and painless as possible. **2. Thorough Cleanings:** A proper dental cleaning should take at least 30 to 45 minutes, not including the dentist's exam. The dentist should check every tooth and gum area thoroughly and perform an oral cancer screening. **3. Quality Materials:** When getting crowns, implants, or caps, ask where the materials are made. High-quality materials often come from places like Switzerland, Germany, and Japan, while materials from other countries may have questionable quality. **4. Floss Regularly:** Despite new products claiming to replace flossing, dental floss remains the gold standard for cleaning between teeth. **5. Improve Brushing Technique:** Brush up and down, back and forth, and in circular motions to clean all areas of your teeth effectively. **6. Chew Gum:** Chewing gum can increase saliva production, which is good for your mouth. Both sugarless gum with xylitol and regular sugary gum can be beneficial. **7. Rinse When You Can't Brush:** If you can't brush your teeth, rinse thoroughly with water or eat foods like apples, cheese, nuts, or raw cocoa. **8. Brush Twice a Day:** Brushing twice a day is sufficient for most people. Extra brushing doesn't significantly improve dental health. **9. Sanitize Your Toothbrush:** Use a toothbrush with a UV sanitizer station to sanitize the head after each use and replace the head every three months.