Our cosmetic and family practice believes in preventing any concern regarding your well-being before it can progress, which remains true when it comes to the condition of your smile. An effective oral hygiene routine increases the chance of maintaining optimal oral health and facial aesthetic by helping you avoid the development of complications in the future. Our dentists and team want to teach our patients the following tips to give them the information they need to preserve their teeth and gums. By observing these simple steps, you can keep your smile healthy and beautiful for a lifetime.
The Foundation of Oral Hygiene
The foundation of your at-home dental care routine starts with your toothbrush. It is best practice to find an instrument that has soft bristles to reach all the nooks and crannies of your teeth. A brush that scrubs too harshly due to tough bristles can damage your teeth. Cleaning your smile forcefully can cause your gum line to recede and degrade enamel. Toothbrushes with hard bristles have also been shown to be less effective at removing bacteria between the gaps of teeth.
Add More to the Basics
While many patients know to brush their teeth before going to bed and again when waking up, it is common to angle their toothbrush parallel to the gums. When cleansing your teeth, it is best to hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to ensure you remove the bacteria on the surface of your dental structures. Also, it is recommended to brush in short, gentle strokes as forcibly scrubbing also keeps your toothbrush from getting between the gaps of teeth.
Gum for Prevention
ADA sealed sugarless gum is advantageous for your dental health. The allows people to chew away the food particles that are left behind on the surface of your teeth. Leaving behind debris contributes to tooth decay so gum is a snack that keeps your smile healthy.
Water is the Best Drink
While it is universal knowledge that drinking water is good for you, consuming it also washes away food debris. City water has fluoride in it, which helps strengthen tooth enamel and prevents cavities from developing.
Flossing is Necessary
It is found that flossing is one of the most left out steps during a patient’s dental care routine. Not flossing on a daily basis can negatively impact your smile as leftover food particles remain on your teeth. Flossing halts the spread of tooth decay and removes bacteria that collects between teeth.
For more information on how to optimize your oral hygiene routine, contact our Wantagh dental practice! Our team wants each patient to protect and maintain their smile!