Oral health is all about keeping a daily dental care routine, staying up to date on your dental visits, and living a healthy lifestyle. If you protect your oral health with good and consistent oral hygiene practices, you’ll achieve a bright, healthy smile.
Here are a few oral hygiene tips from the Smile dentists to help keep your teeth clean between appointments.
Brush Regularly
To keep your teeth healthy, you should brush your teeth twice a day, every day with a fluoride toothpaste (and swishing with mouthwash afterwards for a bonus). Often, people choose to do so when they wake up in the morning and before they go to bed. Brushing your teeth helps prevent tooth discoloration, plaque buildup, cavities, gum disease, and more. But brushing your teeth is only part of our oral hygiene instructions.
Your brushing technique and the type of toothbrush you use are also essential parts of taking care of your teeth. Angling your brush 45 degrees, using short circular motions, and choosing a bristled brush comfortable for your mouth are key to helping prevent cavities and tooth decay.
And don’t forget to clean your tongue!
Floss, Too!
“How often do you floss?” We know, it is a dreaded question when you visit the dentist for a cleaning but it’s an important step in your oral hygiene routine. Whether you use string floss, dental tape, a Waterpik, or a floss pick, flossing at least once a day is recommended. It helps remove food particles and bacteria from between your teeth and gumline where a toothbrush just cannot reach.
Cut Down on Sugar & Soda
Limiting soda as well as sugary drinks and foods is another good way to keep your teeth looking clean and healthy before your next Smile dentist appointment. The acids within soda – phosphoric and citric – and sweet treats have been shown to damage enamel, increasing your chances of getting cavities. Drinking water is a great alternative and, for added flavor, you could include fruit!
In addition to caring for your teeth at home, we also recommend scheduling a professional teeth cleaning twice a year (every six months). Nevertheless, following these simple oral care tips will help you have a healthy and happy smile in between every Smile Dental visit.