One of the most important things you can do for your long-term oral health is committing to an at-home dental care routine.
From childhood, we are taught to brush our teeth every day, twice a day. But in order to minimize the risk of any future dental decay or unnecessary trips to the dentist, it’s critical to add the following to your regime:
Improve your brushing technique
Brush your teeth gently with circular and short back-and-forth motions, holding the toothbrush at a slight angle. It’s also important to brush all sides of your teeth, not forgetting your tongue, for two minutes.
Use the right tools
Use a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth comfortably. Make sure to store your toothbrush upright in an open-air space. It’s best if you store it separately from other brushes to avoid cross-contamination. On average, you should be replacing your toothbrush every 3 months.
Use a mouthwash
Using a mouthwash containing fluoride on a daily basis is a great addition to your at-home dental care routine. Fluoride strengthens developing teeth in children and prevents tooth decay in both children and adults. It’s often possible that a higher strength, prescription fluoride product is necessary for you. Contact us to help you determine what you need.
Clean hard-to-reach spots by flossing daily
Daily flossing will help you reach the bacteria between your teeth and your gumline, spots often missed with a toothbrush. If you find flossing difficult, try using either a dental pick, pre-threaded flosser, tiny brushes that reach between teeth, a water flosser, or a wooden or silicone wedge plaque remover.
Keep tabs on those pearly whites
Make sure you frequently check up on your teeth for any signs that something isn’t right. Examine your teeth for any signs of chipping or cracking, discoloration, and looseness. And if you feel any changes in your bite or you start to develop any pain, call your dentist as soon as possible.
It also goes without saying that we should all be eating healthy balanced diets. And this is especially important for our oral health. Considering that sugar and starch produce the most acids in the mouth it is wise to limit these to healthy portions.
If you’d like to make sure that your at-home dental routine is optimal for your oral health, contact us for an appointment so we can have a personalized look at what you might be able to improve.
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