If you’ve recently paid a visit to your dentist for a cleaning, you’ve likely come home with plenty of tips and suggestions to improve your dental health habits. The following tips will help you achieve optimal dental health -- and practicing these will help you keep a beautiful smile for as long as possible.
Top Dental Health Tips
Set reminders
If you find yourself skipping the floss some days, or forgetting to use mouthwash, set reminders on your phone or leave sticky notes in your bathroom. This will help you keep track of your dental health and ensure you adhere to healthy habits. You can even set a timer on your phone when brushing or using mouthwash to make sure you’re spending enough time on each dental health necessity.
Floss and brush properly
From brushing your teeth for at least a full minute to making sure you floss correctly, there are some key dental health practices to follow. Another common mistake perhaps most of us make? Using a sawing motion when brushing. This can accelerate gum recession and can require gum grafting down the road. Make sure when you’re flossing -- every day -- that you don’t simply move the floss up and down. Pull it over to each tooth to ensure no food particles are stuck. And, of course, don’t neglect the teeth far back in your mouth when brushing and flossing. Dental deterioration, root canals, cavities and other negative consequences could develop down the road if you neglect your dental health.
Brush at least twice a day
No matter how tired you are before going to bed, or how rushed you are to leave the house in the morning, it’s extremely important to brush your teeth at a minimum of twice a day. Allowing food to sit on your teeth can lead to decay and plaque buildup.
Read your dental health signs
Do you have any toothaches or new discolored spots on your teeth? When considering your dental health, it’s all-important to know when to book an appointment with your dental professional. If not taken care of quickly, a problem in your mouth could lead to more serious issues down the road.
Contact Dr. Bleeker today to learn more about adopting dental health habits that will keep your smile beautiful and healthy. Schedule your appointment today!