As the primary caregiver of your mouth, it is important to be diligent and thorough in cleaning your teeth and gums. However, even the most diligent of brushers may not be effective if their homecare practices are incorrect, so to help you boost your homecare, Dr. Deborha Staten is sharing four homecare tips.
Tips for a Healthier Mouth
- Don’t brush too hard. Brushing too forcefully can actually damage your teeth. Too much abrasion is capable of stripping the enamel from teeth, leaving them poorly equipped to defend against bacteria. Too much force can also damage the gums, causing them to bleed.
- Divide brushing into three phases. If you divide your brushing into three phases, you will be less likely to miss any areas. During phase one, focus on the front surface of your teeth. Be sure to brush one or two teeth at a time and brush in small circles. For phase two, brush the inside surface of teeth, and brush the biting surface of teeth during phase three. The order doesn’t really matter. Just be sure that you clean every surface.
- Floss gently. As with brushing, flossing too forcefully can damage your mouth. When flossing, glide the dental floss along the side of each tooth with the goal of removing bacteria from each surface. As you work your way through your mouth, continue to use clean sections of the floss.
- Try mouthwash. Tooth decay is caused by bacteria, so using a bacteria-killing mouthwash can be a real boost for your homecare. Just be sure that the mouthwash does in fact kill bacteria. Then rinse your mouth with it thoroughly.
In addition to all of these tips, don’t forget to attend a regular dental cleaning every six months with your dentist.
Schedule a Dental Cleaning with Your Dentist
When did you have your last dental cleaning? If more than six months have passed, you are due for another. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Staten by calling 702-736-7979.
