When you maintain good oral hygiene habits, you can help your smile stay clear of issues like tooth decay and gum disease, so you maintain full and beautiful smiles. But how do you care for your smile from home, and when should you see our team? In today’s blog, your Ankeny, IA, dentist talks about improving oral hygiene!
Better Care at Home
When you take good care of your teeth and gums at home, you can help prevent the onset of issues like tooth decay and gum disease. You should start each day by brushing your teeth for two minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush. The toothpaste you use should contain fluoride, as this naturally-occurring mineral has been shown to strengthen enamel and fight the onset of cavities. In the evening, you need to do the same before going to bed. While brushing is effective, you also need to clean the spaces in between the teeth, where a toothbrush’s bristles cannot reach. To do so, you needed to floss. You should run a piece of floss tape or strong up and down each side of every tooth, dipping beneath the gum line each time as well. These actions remove the trapped particles and help protect smiles from gingivitis and gum disease.
You also need to watch what you eat. When you consume foods and drinks with a lot of sugars in them, this provides a meal for harmful bacteria. As they consume these particles, this leads to the plaque and tartar buildup that can weaken enamel and inflame the gums. We also urge you to avoid using tobacco products.
Improving Oral Hygiene In-Office
While the actions above can help reduce the severity of plaque and tartar, you need a professional cleaning to remove the buildup completely. We want to see you every six months for a checkup and cleaning, so we can monitor your smile for signs of trouble and address them in the early stages. With the cleaning portion, we can completely remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth to prevent issues like cavities and periodontal disease. The process only takes a few seconds! For kids, we can also talk about fluoride treatments and dental sealants to help fight cavities and keep little smiles strong.
If you have any questions about how improving oral hygiene can help safeguard your smile, then contact our team today to learn more.
Dental Impressions Talks About Improving Oral Hygiene
We want to help you enjoy healthier smiles and avoid issues like tooth decay and gum disease, which is why we want to improve your oral hygiene. To find out more about keeping your teeth and gums strong, call Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA today at (515) 965-0230.
