Our team wants to help strengthen your smile and keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong. Along with visits to our team for a checkup and cleaning, you also need to improve how you care for your smile at home. In today’s blog, your Ankeny, IA, dentist discusses how to improve your oral hygiene habits.
Brushing Your Teeth
How often do you brush your teeth? To help scrub away food and drink particles protecting your smile from plaque buildup and complications like tooth decay, you need to brush twice a day. Be sure you do so in the morning for two minutes when you first wake up, and then do so again before going to bed. We recommend a toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid inadvertent enamel or gum damage if you brush too hard. Also, be sure you use a fluoride toothpaste as this helps strengthen the outer enamel to keep cavities away.
Flossing
You also need to floss each evening before you go to bed, preferably before you brush the second time. Take floss string, tape, or a pick and run it up and down each side of each tooth, dipping beneath the gum line each time. This helps extract the trapped particles beyond the reach of a toothbrush, and is crucial for fighting gingivitis and gum disease.
Eating a Healthier Diet
What we eat and drink also impacts our smile’s health! When we consume foods and drinks with lots of sugar and starch, this leaves behind particles for bacteria to consume. As they do, this creates a high level of oral acidity and coats the teeth in plaque, which can irritate the gums and erode the protective enamel. We suggest items with lots of Vitamin C and D, as well as whole grain breads, fresh fruits and vegetables, and lean meats.
Checkups and Cleanings
We also want to see you every six months for a checkup and cleaning. With the exam, we can keep an eye on your smile for the first signs of trouble, so we can diagnose cavities and gum disease early and take actions to keep your smile whole. In the same visit, we also clean the teeth to thoroughly remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth and along the gumline. If you have any questions about improving your oral hygiene habits, or if you would like to schedule a visit with our team, then contact our office today to learn more and get started!
Dental Impressions Talks About Boosting Your Oral Hygiene
With better care at home, you can keep your teeth and gums strong! To find out more about maintaining better oral hygiene habits, then call Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA today at (515) 965-0230.
