HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR ORAL HYGIENE AT HOME FROM A DENTIST IN ENGLEWOOD
Talking, eating, kissing, singing. Although a clean mouth isn’t required to do what you do with it, it’s a lot better for everyone when it is clean. Your oral hygiene matters, and you sit in the driver’s seat for how well your mouth is maintained. Of course, you should still attend your dental checkup with your dentist in Englewood twice a year for a cleaning and to ensure there are no other issues with your oral health. But thinking about your oral hygiene shouldn’t happen only twice a year. You can do so much to promote your oral health and hygiene at home on your own.
Take a look
You’re not a trained dentist, but there are some issues with oral hygiene that are easy to spot. Plus, if you inspect your mouth regularly, you may see patterns that the dentist won’t catch. Do you have red, swollen gums? Are your teeth discolored or chipped? Do you see buildup anywhere? Raise your concerns with your dentist and become an equal partner in your oral hygiene and health.
Make a plan just for you
Everyone is unique, and so is their situation in life. Create a plan to improve your oral hygiene with your dentist in Englewood. They can provide advice for how to integrate these oral hygiene practices into your life. For example, if you have dry mouth from medications, your dentist can prescribe or recommend mouthwashes that can help.
Do the basics
You know you should brush and floss, but the trick is doing it daily and being consistent. Within hours of eating, the plaque that houses harmful bacteria can start to solidify. By 48 hours, it turns into tartar, which can only be removed by a dental professional. Brushing and flossing regularly prevent the bacteria from creating acids that lead to tooth decay. Make the commitment to brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day to protect your smile. Plus, less bacteria in your mouth means that your breath will be fresher as well!
Use products with fluoride
When you’re shopping for toothpaste, make sure the one you choose has fluoride in it. Fluoride does more than strengthen developing teeth in children. It also helps prevent decay in both adults and children. Also, consider using a fluoride mouthwash to kill the harmful bacteria in your mouth missed by brushing and flossing. If needed, you can ask your dentist for prescription toothpaste or mouthwash, which will offer higher concentrations of fluoride.
Kick the habit
If you smoke or chew tobacco, take the steps needed to quit. Using tobacco not only gives you bad breath and stains your teeth but also can lead to oral cancer, gingivitis, periodontitis, and tooth decay.
Watch what you eat
Everything you eat feeds not only you but also the bacteria that live in your mouth. Especially sugary and starchy foods can stimulate the production of harmful acids. Consider limiting the amount of snacking you do throughout the day.
Also, think about what you’re eating. Although some food hurts your oral hygiene and health, some foods actually help keep your teeth clean, such as apples, carrots, and celery. Other foods like cheese are high in calcium, which strengthens teeth, while other foods like leafy greens have B vitamins, which help treat and prevent gingivitis.
Although your visits with the dentist twice a year are important, the little things that you do daily have a huge impact on your oral health and hygiene. Follow these tips, and you and your dentist will see the difference.
About the practice
At Tarpon Shores Dental, three talented, experienced dentists serve the Englewood area. They all practice dentistry in a way that helps promote the patient’s overall health as well as their oral health. They have decades of experience and provide unparalleled service for each patient. Also, Tarpon Shores Dental implements the best technology available with all-digital x-rays, intraoral cameras, and soft tissue lasers. Contact Tarpon Shores Dental by calling (941) 548-1351.