Are you doing everything possible to keep your smile in optimal shape? It makes sense to revisit your oral health habits from time to time to see if your routine needs to be tweaked at all. Here are our suggestions for healthy dental habits for all of our patients to follow.
Brush your teeth twice each day and floss daily. A good home oral hygiene regimen is the cornerstone of a healthy smile. You should be brushing twice each day for two minutes each session. Hold your toothbrush at an angle along the gumline, and use an ADA-approved toothpaste. Add flossing to your routine daily to remove additional plaque between the teeth and along the gumline. Discuss technique with your Family Dentist to make sure you are getting the maximum benefit from these healthy habits.
Schedule checkups and cleanings with your family dentist at least twice a year. Professional cleanings help to remove additional plaque and tartar that may have accumulated despite your oral hygiene practices, especially in areas of the smile that are tough for you to reach on your own. Hygienists have a better angle on those spots and can properly use professional grade instruments to remove calculus from the area. Additionally, having a dentist examine your teeth, gums and other oral tissues every six months increases the probability that any oral diseases can be treated and diagnosed early in the disease process.
Monitor your gums for signs of gum disease. Gum disease is most easily treated in its earliest stage-gingivitis. So, keep an eye out for symptoms like bleeding, swelling or redness in the gums and consult with your family dentist about treatment options.
Eat a nutritious diet that features a variety of fruits and vegetables. The nutrients that you get from fruits and vegetables, as well as other healthy foods, benefit your teeth and gums as much as the rest of your body.
Consider supplemental fluoride treatments. Fluoride treatments provided by your dentist help to make your teeth stronger by supporting remineralization, which becomes increasingly important as you get older.
Don’t hesitate to check in with a professional about your oral health habits if you have any questions or want to give your routine a boost. We want to help you maintain a healthy, beautiful smile, so Call Us at any time to discuss your concerns.