Proper dental care is needed to ensure that your teeth and gums remain healthy. This refers to regular habits like brushing at least twice daily and keeping up with your regular dental checkups and dental cleanings. Proper dental care is your first line of defense against tooth decay and gum disease.
At the same time, it is important to realize that oral health is about more than just gum disease and cavities. Recent research is showing that there is a link between one’s oral health and overall health. This is not completely surprising since all parts of the body are connected in ways that are sometimes unexpected.
Here are a few ways that you can ensure that you are practicing proper dental care to keep both your teeth and gums healthy.
Brush regularly but not aggressively.
You probably already know that one of the best ways to remove plaque and oral bacteria is to brush your teeth twice a day at a minimum. However, many people do not use the correct method.
You should brush your teeth with short circular motions, making sure that you brush each surface of every tooth, including the front and back. This should take about three minutes to complete.
By using a hard bristle toothbrush or brushing overly hard, you can damage your tooth enamel, as well as your gums. This can lead to gum erosion and permanent tooth enamel damage, as well as tooth sensitivity.
Floss daily.
When you floss your teeth properly, you are removing plaque and bacteria found between the teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach. This also helps to prevent bad breath through the removal of trapped food from between the teeth.
Avoid smoking.
Besides the well-known overall health effects of smoking, this habit also damages the immune system, making it more difficult for your body to heal damaged tissues, like those found in the mouth. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists smoking as a noted risk factor for developing gum disease, and the American Dental Association (ADA) warns that smoking can lead to slow healing following a dental procedure.
Visit your dentist regularly.
It is recommended that you visit a dentist at least twice yearly for a checkup. During this time, your dental hygienist will clean your teeth to remove plaque and tartar. Regular checkups also afford your dental team an opportunity to check for signs of oral health problems that you may not have noticed. This is extremely important because early detection and intervention leads to better outcomes.
Schedule Your Appointment
Have you been putting off needed dental exams and cleanings? Together with proper dental care at home, these regular visits help to prevent tooth decay and gum disease through the removal of plaque and hardened tartar from your teeth. This dramatically lowers the odds that you will develop tooth decay or gum disease that may otherwise require complicated and expensive dental work down the road.
Please contact any of our offices to schedule your next dental cleaning appointment. Select the closest location to you below.
