You’ve been doing it since you were five. You switch to auto pilot morning and night and brush your teeth, to maintain a healthy, beautiful smile. But are you doing it correctly? Harris Dental in Phoenix wants to make sure you are!
The truth is that many individuals are making tooth brushing mistakes. You may need to tweak your routine to better support your oral health and protect your smile from dental caries and gum disease.
Here are vital tooth brushing tips:
1. Take your time.
It’s understandable. You want to get it over with and go to bed. Proper teeth cleaning takes time and careful attention. Time yourself the next time you brush—you might be surprised at how rapidly you finish. The process should take at least two to three minutes. It can also be useful to take a different route around your mouth every few days. By adjusting your process, you approach areas from a different, and possibly, better angle.
2. Don’t forget to floss.
No matter how agile you can be with your brush, it’s difficult to get rid of the plaque from all those narrow gaps between your teeth. That is where bacteria can easily multiply and start the decay process.
3. Use the right toothbrush.
It is ironic that some people impair their enamel or gums because they brush too forcibly with a hard brush. We counsel patients to only use a soft brush. If you’ve had gum grafts, you may want to use an extra soft brush.
4. Don’t keep your tooth brush near the toilet.
This is awful to think about, but each time the toilet is flushed, bacteria is sent far into the air—even if you close the lid. Keep your toothbrush in a clean place and permit it to air dry.
5. Use fluoride toothpaste.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but you may be surprised that some oral care products don’t contain fluoride. And you may think it’s only for kids. Not true. Your enamel is consistently under assault from acidic foods and drinks and fluoride helps it remineralize.
At Harris Dental, we want all our Phoenix-area patients to have and keep a healthy, beautiful smile. So brush and floss properly twice a day, and see us every six months for a checkup. We provide general and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule your next appointment today.
Contact Harris Dental:
480-428-0040
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