What better time to re-dedicate yourself to your oral health and wellness than October, which is National Dental Hygiene Month! Here are ways to avoid problems, minimize (or avoid) treatment costs and keep dental visits short and sweet!
– Thoroughly brush your teeth (a minimum of 3 minutes) twice a day. Use a medium or soft bristle tooth brush. Electric tooth brushes do an even better job of vibrating food particles out of hard to reach places between teeth, so use one of those if possible.
– Floss daily! There is no substitute for this action. Once you’re in the habit of it, it will take just a couple of minutes and you’ll wonder why it was such a big deal before.
– If you’ve been especially prone to cavities in the past, swish with a non-alcohol mouthwash once or twice a day. This action helps to keep bacteria levels down.
– Use a tongue scraper daily to remove additional bacteria from the grooves of the tongue. Bacteria embed themselves here and reproduce all day, contributing to bad breath and the sticky film on teeth that becomes plaque if not removed.
– Remember, each time you eat or drink (anything other than water), an acid attack begins. This is harmful to tooth enamel. After eating, brush, swish with water or chew sugarless gum to counteract this.
– See us for your 6-month check-up and dental hygiene cleaning to remove any plaque build-up. This visit can also catch problems while they are still small and easy to repair, or even note areas that are at-risk so you can pay special attention to them to prevent further damage.
Like putting oil in your car and having your tires rotated and aligned periodically, keeping your smile in good condition helps you prevent problems and saves you from costly repairs down the road! Devote time each day to your smile, as well as twice a year in our office, to ensure all is well. Your smile is a special part of every day, so give it the attention it deserves!
