We want to see you for a checkup and cleaning every few months so that we can keep your smile healthy and bright, and free of issues like tooth decay and gum disease. But you also need to care for your smile at home in between these visits. In today’s blog, your Ankeny, IA, dentist talks about improving oral hygiene habits.
The Importance of Caring for Your Smile
You need to take care of your smile daily, otherwise serous plaque and tartar buildup could accumulate on your teeth. This happens due to poor brushing and flossing habits, and a diet high in sugar and starch. Without treatment to control the buildup, these layers could increase the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. The risk of bad breath and teeth stains is elevated too! But with daily care, you can keep these layers in check and safeguard your smile.
Brushing and Flossing
You should start and end each day by brushing your teeth for two minutes. We suggest using a toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid gum recession and damage, and be sure your toothpaste contains fluoride. A fluoride toothpaste helps strengthen your outer enamel. You also need to floss before you brush the second time. Flossing up and down each side of every tooth helps remove the bits of food and drink that brushing alone cannot. These actions remove stray food and drink particles before they can feed harmful buildup and cause plaque buildup.
Continuing Care at Our Office
Every six months, we want to see you for a checkup and cleaning. During your checkup visit, we will examine your smile with advanced digital imaging so that we can assess the presence of issues like tooth decay, gingivitis, and gum disease. We may also screen for oral cancer. The earlier we identify an issue, the sooner we can offer treatment, often before you experience discomfort.
With the cleaning portion, we will completely remove all plaque and tartar from your teeth with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool. We then polish the etch to not only brighten them, but to make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to adhere to them! If you have any questions about how we can improve your oral hygiene habits, or about seeing us for a checkup and cleaning, then contact our team today to learn more.
Dental Impressions Talks About Boosting Your Oral Hygiene
With routine actions at home and regular visits to our office, you can maintain bright and healthy smiles for years to come! To find out more about improving your overall oral hygiene with better homecare habits and visits to our office, then call Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA today at (515) 965-0230.
