If you’re like most people, then you’re fully aware that you need to brush your teeth at least twice per day and floss at least once a day. However, many people still struggle to stay on top of their oral hygiene, and as little as 16 percent of you admit that you floss every single day. Taking good care of your teeth and gums isn’t just about protecting yourself from bad breath, though. Good oral hygiene is also essential to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and even severe periodontal infection. To help you better understand the basics of a good dental health regimen, we here at Ideal Dental Care would like to offer these helpful tips to help you to have a beautiful smile.
The Fundamentals of Brushing
It is strongly advised that you brush your teeth both morning and evening, but you can also brush them after your midday meal, as well. To brush your teeth, you need to start with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Position it at a 45-degree angle to your gumline, gently brush your teeth using a small, back-and-forth motion against your teeth. You need to make sure you brush your teeth for a minimum of two minutes, which will help guarantee you’ll get all of the surfaces of your teeth.
Flossing Your Teeth Correctly
If you’re part of the population who only flosses when you have food trapped between your teeth, we’d like to strongly encourage you to do this task more often! Fortunately, flossing your teeth is a breeze and doesn’t take long to complete at all. To floss, start with a length of floss that is about eighteen inches long. Wrap the ends around your fingertips, then ease the floss between your teeth in a c-shaped crescent pattern. Rub the floss over both sides of your teeth, then carefully ease it up beneath your gum line. This can help remove any trapped food, bacteria, and plaque that may have formed there.
What about Mouthwash?
While brushing and flossing are absolutely mandatory, you may be wondering you need to use mouthwash after you brush your teeth. Mouthwash is an excellent way to help kill any remaining bacteria in your mouth, but it’s not required to maintain a healthy mouth. If you elect to use a mouth rinse, but you find that it stings or burns too much, you can choose to use an alcohol-free mouthwash. That said, it’s entirely up to you if you use it.
In addition to brushing and flossing, we here at Ideal Dental Care recommend that you come visit us twice per year for your routine dental checkup and cleaning. To schedule your next appointment with us, please don’t hesitate to contact our office today!
