You’re likely already aware of the importance of good, regular dental care, but working to keep your teeth healthy doesn’t start and stop with the cleanings you receive from your dentist. There are quite a few things pertaining to dental health that your dentist might want you to keep in mind when you’re not in the exam room chair. Here are four tips that’ll help keep you prepared for a stellar next visit.
1. Don’t Wait For the Pain!
Waiting until something is wrong with your teeth might be one of the worst things you can do. Preventative care can catch problems early, or alert you to where a problem may arise. If you’re already in pain, you might need quite a bit of work done. Worse yet, you may have triggered the likelihood of other dental issues following suit. X rays at your cleaning might detect the very early stages of a cavity, which can be taken care of a lot easier than a full blown decaying tooth.
2. Floss Every Day
If you’re not sure how to floss properly, ask your dentist how. Flossing keeps teeth and gums healthy and serves to break up plaque on the teeth. Hate cleanings? Regular, proper flossing with shorten them significantly, as the dentist will have less of that pesky plaque to scrape off your teeth.
3. Stop Smoking
Not only can smoking cause oral cancer, but smoking discolors your teeth and creates a host of bacteria in your mouth. Smoking can also lead to tooth decay and tooth loss, as well as gum disease, and can contribute to halitosis.
4. Don’t Brush Too Hard
You probably already know that it’s important to brush your teeth thoroughly, for at least two minutes. But if you’re pressing so hard that the bristles are bending, you might be doing more harm than good! Plaque is soft, so there’s no need to scrub so hard. By doing so, you might actually be damaging the surface of your teeth and wearing down the enamel. If you can’t help being a bit heavy handed with the brushing, purchasing a soft bristled toothbrush can help take some of the pressure off of your teeth.
When you see your dentist, be sure to ask about other tips and techniques you should keep in mind to take care of your teeth. In West Bloomfield, the experts at Dwoskin & Owens Cosmetic & Family Dentistry can surely offer some advice. “Brush up” on your health, and make your dentist proud at your next visit!
