Practicing Good Oral Hygiene at Home
Going to see your Florida dentist is the best way to keep your mouth healthy and looking great. If you want to keep that sparkly smile, though, you can't stop there. You have to practice good oral hygiene habits at home too. The problem is that many people think they have a good oral cleaning routine when there are actually areas in which they could improve.
At Advanced Dental Care of Florida, we provide people in Florida with an array of dental services. However, we also make sure that our patients are doing their part to keep their mouths clean at home. Below are a few tips that you should use to practice good oral hygiene. If you have any questions or need to visit a dentist, give us a call to set up an appointment.
Brush Your Teeth Two Times a Day
This first tip is an obvious one, and probably the one that most people are doing on a regular basis. Brushing your teeth is the bedrock of your oral health routine. You need to make sure that you brush twice a day. Typically, you should brush once in the morning and once at night before going to bed. When brushing your teeth, you should do so for at least two minutes.
In a perfect world, you would brush your teeth after every meal. This is because brushing your teeth remove food particles that cling to your teeth. These food particles act as fuel for bacteria, which can eventually lead to gingivitis and tooth decay. However, brushing after each meal is not always possible, which makes brushing twice a day even more important.
Floss Every Day
You likely know how important flossing is. Dentists remind patients about it all the time and for good reason. Flossing is just as important as brushing your teeth because it removes food particles that get trapped between your teeth. These food particles typically can't be removed by brushing alone.
The best time to floss is at the end of the day before you go to bed. This way, you can remove all of the food particles from between your teeth so that they don't remain there all night long. Some people often wonder if they should use regular floss or a water flosser. In reality, it doesn't matter as long as you are flossing.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
What you eat has a huge impact on your overall oral health, so you should try to eat healthily as much as possible. This means cutting down on sugary food, which can encourage bacteria growth. When it's time for a snack, avoid reaching for candy or sweets. Instead, try reaching for veggies. This is even more important if you don't have a chance to brush your teeth afterward.
On the topic of diet, you should watch what you drink throughout the day too. Try to avoid sugary drinks, such as sodas. Not only is the sugar bad for your teeth, but the citric acid in the drink can damage the enamel on your teeth. Instead, drinking water can help wash away food particles that might be left in your mouth after eating.
Avoid Stains by Avoiding Certain Drinks and Foods
No one wants stains on their teeth. A good way to avoid stains is to watch what you are eating and drinking. When you drink red wine, coffee and soda, your teeth are at risk of getting stained. The more that you drink these beverages, the more likely that you are to get stains. If you find yourself craving these beverages, try drinking through a straw to limit the contact that the beverages have with your teeth.
That said, it's not just drinks that can stain your teeth. Some foods, such as tomato sauce, chocolate and dark berries, can stain as well. Unlike beverages, though, you can't eat these foods through a straw. Thus, your best bet is to avoid or limit your consumption of these foods.
Remember That Your Teeth Aren't Tools
People end up using their teeth for a lot more than what they are designed for. While teeth are meant to help chew your food, some people use their teeth to open bottle caps, tear open bags or hold items when their hands are full. All of these actions put extra stress on your teeth, and doing them too often can weaken your teeth and eventually lead to cracking.
The tip here is a simple one. Don't use your teeth as a multi-tool device. Instead, use your teeth for what they are designed for, and you will keep your smile much longer.
Pick the Right Toothbrush
Let's end with a tip that goes hand in hand with our first tip. You know that brushing is important, but picking the right toothbrush is pretty important as well. If you want to get your teeth clean, make sure that you are buying a toothbrush that has multi-length bristles. It makes it easier to clean all of the surfaces of your teeth at once.
Also, make sure that your toothbrush has soft bristles. Avoid getting toothbrushes that have medium or hard bristles because they can damage your tooth enamel. Plus, you need to replace your toothbrush at least once every three months. This helps prevent the growth of bacteria on your toothbrush.
See Your Dentist for Help With the Rest
Using the tips above is a great way to keep your smile looking good for years. No matter how well you take care of your teeth, though, you will still need a professional's help from time to time. Dentists provide a number of fantastic services that you simply can't do at home, including professional cleanings, chair-side whitening services and braces. At Advanced Dental Care of Florida, we offer all of these services and more.
Visit Us for All of Your Dental Needs
Are you ready to get the smile that you have always wanted? If so, give us a call. We have been providing dental services for people living in Florida for years. They put their trust in us because we put their needs first. That is why people trust their oral health and the oral health of their family members to us.
Now is the time to take charge of your oral health. Give us a call, and one of our friendly staff members will set you up an appointment or answer any questions you may have.
