With all the health advice that is available at your fingertips now, it is so hard sometimes to know what is actually important to your oral health and what’s not. We are going to give you our top tips to maintain a healthier smile and ensure you are practicing good oral hygiene.
BRUSH YOUR TEETH DAILY
This should go without saying right? We have been told this by our parents and dentist so before we can remember. But has anyone explained why it is so important? Brushing removes the leftover food from your mouth and teeth, if left there it can bond to your teeth and form plaque. We naturally have bacteria that lives in our mouths, they feed on the food particles and cause the digestive acids to eat through our tooth enamel, thus causing tooth decay. Plaque and tooth decay are two things that can easily be avoided by brushing your teeth for 2 minutes, twice a day.
Is flossing important? Absolutely! It is just as important or maybe more so in the fight against plaque. Flossing gets the food that is stuck in the hard-to-reach places, those stuck food particles cause tooth decay and cavities. Those are no fun! By flossing after meals, you can remove those pesky food particles quickly before the have time to cause issues.
Do I really need to see a dentist twice a year? By having regular dental exams, you are allowing your dentist to help preserve your dental health. Your dentist is trained to recognize early signs of tooth decay and gum disease. By being proactive we can help you catch things and make changes before they can become a problem.
You may be asking; how can water help me maintain a healthy smile? By keeping hydrated, you allow your mouth to produce saliva. Saliva helps to keep your mouth clean; it naturally washes away some of the bacteria and leftover food particles.
Wait what? When you brush your teeth, don’t forget to brush your tongue as well. The white or yellow area in the back of your tongue can cause bad breath. By brushing this part of your mouth, you are removing any bacteria that may be trapped there causing the bad breath.
Make sure to take care of your toothbrush, good oral hygiene starts with it, so ensure you are leaving it in a place where it can completely dry after each use. Also, make sure you clean off any excess toothpaste before it dries on.
The doctors at Southpoint Quality Dental in Stafford and Fredericksburg are here to help you maintain that beautiful health smile. Give us a call today.