Isn’t it time you considered whether you are doing everything you can to keep your smile healthy?
Are you giving your teeth and gums the TLC they need to be as healthy as they possibly can? While most people make good strides to maintaining optimum oral health, there is usually at least once or two areas where people fall flat. If you want to keep getting cavity-free reports from our Allentown, PA, general dentist, Dr. Robert Sanford, then you will want to follow these helpful rules:
How is your brushing?
Be honest with yourself. Would you say that you really understand how to get your teeth properly clean or could you use a little help in that department? It’s okay to admit this; after all, while this habit should be well ingrained in us from childhood, it doesn’t mean that autopilot doesn’t kick in from time to time. Here are some tips for getting your brushing back on track:
- Always brush at a 45-degree angle
- Opt for a toothbrush with soft bristles, which is gentler on enamel
- Brush all surfaces of your teeth, including the inner surfaces
- Brush your tongue to remove the bacteria that’s responsible for bad breath
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day
- Replace your toothbrush head once the bristles begin to fray (usually every 3-4 months)
- Brush for a minimum of two minutes every time you brush
How is your flossing?
Flossing is crucial for getting the areas between teeth clean. Your toothbrush alone won’t be able to remove plaque and food from these areas; this is a job for flossing and flossing alone! Here are some tips for how to floss properly:
- Use a generous amount of floss (usually about 15 inches)
- Wind them over your middle or pointer fingers (whichever is more comfortable for you)
- Then hold the floss tightly with your thumbs
- Gently wiggle the floss down into each space, making sure that it hugs the side of the tooth
- Use an up-and-down motion to remove plaque from the sides of your teeth
- Once that surface has been cleaned, move to the next tooth surface before gently removing the floss
- Use a new, clean section of floss for each tooth
- Remember to floss at least once a day, preferably in the evening
Do you have questions about the information you just read? Are you ready to up your oral health game? If so, there has never been a better time to call our Sanford Center for Total Health Dentistry in Allentown, PA.