Many people love the feeling of their teeth and gums after a visit to the dentist for a professional teeth cleaning. If you want to maintain the results of a professional cleaning, you need to adopt a meticulous oral hygiene regimen at home. Not only will a proper regimen keep your mouth clean and your breath fresh, it will help safeguard your oral health.
Tips When Brushing
Brushing helps control plaque and the development of tartar. Both of these substances contribute to disease. If you brush correctly, however, you can enjoy much fresher breath and a healthier mouth.
For optimal results with brushing, consider the following:
- You should brush your teeth for about two minutes each time. Two minutes is necessary to thoroughly clean all the surfaces of your teeth and gums.
- Incorporate brushing your gums and tongue into your routine. This will help prevent bad breath and control plaque accumulation.
- Never brush vigorously. This can damage your tooth enamel and irritate your gums. Always brush in soft, circular motions.
- Replace your toothbrush (or brush heads if you use an electronic brush) every three months.
Flossing Tricks from the Pros
While brushing cleans a significant portion of your mouth, it doesn’t clean properly between teeth. This is why you must floss at least once, every day. Flossing properly will help reduce your risks of developing gum disease and interdental tooth decay.
Incorporate the following flossing tips into your routine for a cleaner mouth:
- Take your time. It’s important to floss thoroughly between each tooth. Rushing the flossing process can lead to gingival irritation, too.
- Use enough floss. The experts recommend starting with about 18 inches of floss. This is because you need to use a new section of floss each time you thread it between teeth.
- Use your thumbs and index fingers to hold floss for optimal control.
- Floss up and down between each tooth.
- Curve floss around the base of each tooth, too, and make sure your floss goes gently beneath the gum line. This will help disrupt colonies of bacteria and remove debris.
If it’s time for a dental checkup or teeth cleaning, call the office of Dr. David Kuban to schedule an appointment.
