Healthy Dental Habits to Follow

Maintaining healthy teeth and gums begins in infancy; keeping your adult teeth for a lifetime of service and smiles is possible, but it will take some time and effort. Besides daily brushing and flossing, regular visits with the family dentist will help assure your teeth and gums remain healthy and looking great.

Daily Dental Habits

Establishing a daily regimen to follow whether you are at home, on vacation, or a business trip, and sticking to it faithfully, is a good first step.

Brushing – Using the correct tools and technique are important. A soft bristle toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste are best. It is not necessary to scrub teeth to clean them; however, it is important to brush for two minutes at least twice each day.

An electric toothbrush is an excellent tool; the rapid movement of bristles allows you to clean your teeth by simply guiding the brush to reach the front, top, and back of all teeth. And with a built-in timer, there is a signal when you’ve brushed two minutes.

Rinsing – After you’ve brushed make sure you thoroughly rinse. If your family dentist has prescribed any type of antibacterial or fluoride rinse, make sure you follow directions for use.

Flossing – When you brush, you only reach about two thirds of the teeth’s surfaces. Dental floss is designed to reach between teeth and around the gum line to remove food debris your toothbrush missed. Flossing should be done once daily.

Visits to the Family Dentist

While most of us are advised to visit the dentist twice a year for cleaning and dental exam, your dental condition may mandate a different schedule. Always follow the advice of your dental provider, and maintain their recommended schedule.

During your dental visit, your dental provider will remove all plaque that has formed since your last appointment. Once plaque has hardened on teeth, this is the only way to get rid of it. Teeth are cleaned, flossed, and polished to look their best.

A dental exam is performed to help you maintain the healthiest teeth and gums possible. With regular visits, problems can be diagnosed and treated before they have a chance to escalate. In addition, this exam may save your life. If there are any abnormalities, your dentist can spot them for needed follow up and treatment.

If it’s time to schedule your next cleaning and exam, contact our team at Bliss Dental today.