We all know the staples of a good oral hygiene routine: brushing and flossing. However, our Dentus Family Dental team wants to inform you about some other tips you can follow to help maintain healthy gums and teeth.
1. Brush Your Teeth Two Times Per Day for Two Minutes
Keeping your oral health in optimal shape starts with regular maintenance. Brushing twice daily for two minutes at a time will help keep plaque at bay. If you have children, our St. Albert dentist recommends that you introduce this concept early on and find ways to make it fun. Play a song while they are brushing, or use a timer so that they know when a full two minutes have passed.
To ensure that you clean each tooth, try to spend 30 seconds in each quadrant of your mouth, using small circular motions.
2. Replace Your Toothbrush When it Looks Worn
As a rule, you should change your toothbrush at least once every 3 to 6 months to ensure that it stays in good shape and helps you maintain proper dental hygiene in St. Albert. Damaged or frayed toothbrushes cannot clean the surface of your teeth properly and can even damage your gums. Always rinse your toothbrush and store it in a position that allows it to dry.
3. Visit a Dentist Once Every Six Months
Our dentist near you can prevent oral health issues before they even begin or at the very least catch them early enough to provide proper treatment. Scheduling regular appointments to check on our dental hygiene near you will also ensure that you get a professional cleaning twice a year, removing any buildup of bacteria, tartar, and plaque.
4. Stay Hydrated Throughout the Day
Needless to say, hydration is important for your overall health, and this also includes your oral health. Staying hydrated helps you to maintain a healthy amount of saliva in your mouth. Saliva moves food particles through your mouth, preventing most of them from getting lodged between your teeth and causing cavities.
5. Floss Daily
It is recommended that you floss each night before you brush to remove anything between your teeth that your toothbrush cannot remove. Many patients skip their daily flossing, but keeping your oral health in excellent shape is essential. If you only brush your teeth and skip out on flossing, these small particles of food missed by your toothbrush can lead to cavities and tooth decay. To avoid this from occurring, spend two minutes each day flossing.
When you first begin to floss, you may experience some gum sensitivity. This will go away once you have flossed regularly for a few days. When you floss, ensure that you use enough floss to reach each tooth and that you slide the floss up and down along each side of the tooth. Don’t ignore hard-to-reach or tight spaces, as these are the most important areas to floss.
Visit Dentus Family Dental
If you would like to learn more about the best way to maintain oral health, or if you would like to book your next professional dental cleaning and checkup, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Dentus Family Dental to book a consultation today!