Would you like to avoid oral health problems? Although regular visits to your Salisbury and Easton, MD, dentist, Dr. John Louis are important, good oral care habits are just as essential to the health of your teeth and gums.
The two most important oral hygiene tasks
These oral care tasks are the key to protecting your smile:
- Twice-Daily Brushing: Eliminating cavity-causing plaque is the goal of brushing. When you brush in the morning and evening, you'll reduce plaque buildup and decrease your risk of cavities and gum disease.
- Daily Flossing: Flossing your teeth reduces plaque between teeth and in the area where your teeth meet your gums. Daily flossing is particularly important if you have a dental implant. If you don't floss once a day, you may be more likely to develop an infection that could loosen your implant.
Other factors in good oral hygiene
You can improve your oral hygiene by:
- Increasing Brushing Time: The longer you brush, the better. Brushing your teeth for at least two minutes removes more plaque and is recommended by the American Dental Association.
- Using the Right Tool for the Job: Choose a soft-bristled brush rather than a medium brush to prevent damage to your tooth enamel. Don't use thread, fingernails, paper or other objects to floss your teeth. Floss or water-powered flossers remove plaque safely and won't damage or irritate your gums.
- Brushing Your Tongue: Plaque coats every part of your mouth, not just your teeth. If you don't brush your tongue and the inside of your mouth plaque can transfer to your teeth immediately after you finish brushing and flossing. If brushing your tongue makes you gag, buy a tongue scraper at an Easton or Salisbury drugstore.
- Take Advantage of the Power of Fluoride: This mineral is added to toothpaste and mouthwash for good reason. Fluoride rebuilds areas of tooth enamel weakened by acids, helping you reduce your cavity risk.
Maintain your healthy smile with good oral hygiene! Your dentist in Salisbury and Easton, MD, Dr. Louis of Centers For Specialized Dentistry, offers treatments and services that improve and protect your smile. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the office is only open for emergency care. If you think that you have a dental emergency, call the Easton office at (410) 820-9599 or the Salisbury office at (410) 548-1096 and leave a message.