While regular dental checkups are important to your long-term oral health, it is hard to overstate the value of a good oral care routine practiced at home. On your own, you can maintain a consistent habit of thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth that protects you from tooth decay and gum disease. When you stay on top of these practices, you can remove harmful bacteria and food particles before plaque and tartar start to buildup. Tartar accumulation is particularly concerning, as any deposits present on your teeth can remain in place until they are removed during a professional dental cleaning provided at your Ankeny, IA dentist’s office.
1. Make Sure You Floss On A Daily Basis
While brushing is valuable to your oral health, there are some spaces that a toothbrush will not be effective at cleaning. These spaces between teeth can be vulnerable to the buildup of bacteria and food particles, so it is important that you take care to protect them. By flossing each day, you can avoid problems with tooth decay and gum disease by protecting spaces that your toothbrush can miss. People who only floss when they feel something stuck in their teeth may not realize how much bacteria and food debris can accumulate without their realizing it…until their lack of flossing leads to tartar buildup and problems that demand restorative dental work!
2. Take At Least Two Minutes To Thoroughly Brush Your Teeth
Quick, careless brushing sessions can be less than effective, because they can lead to you consistently missing harder-to-reach areas of your smile. In time, you can allow tartar to form in these spaces, which can lead to problems with decay and gingivitis. How much time is “enough” when you want to do a good job caring for your teeth? Give yourself at least two minutes to complete this task. If you are unsure how long it takes you to brush now, use the timer on your phone to see how comfortable you are with two minutes of brushing. Make sure that when you brush, you are working to clean areas near the back of your mouth, and also taking care to brush at your gum line.
3. Replace Your Toothbrush When It Starts To Wear Down
A toothbrush can become less useful over time if you continue to use it for too long. What this means is that the tool you rely on to protect your smile can become less effective. After three months, you should pick up a replacement brush to make sure your cleaning sessions continue to be effective.
Our Ankeny, IA Dentist’s Office Helps Patients With Plaque And Tartar Buildup
Our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office has experience helping patients manage oral health issues, and we can provide support to help you avoid future problems. To find out more about our services, please call Dental Impressions at (515) 965-0230.
