The new year brings a stream of well-intentioned resolutions designed to improve your overall well-being. If you want to enhance your wellness, you should prioritize your oral health. Your smile requires regular care in order to look and feel its best.
With your smile looking gorgeous, you can feel a boost in overall self-esteem that will inspire confidence across many aspects of your life. If you want to keep your smile in good shape, you will need to practice good oral hygiene. Make a resolution to focus on oral hygiene this year.
Honing your oral hygiene routine can make your smile fresh, beautiful, and healthy. Read on to find advice from your dentist that can help you boost your oral hygiene this year.
Stick to a Consistent Oral Hygiene Regimen
At-home oral hygiene involves brushing your teeth at least twice each day. You must brush in the morning to remove excess bacteria that spread while you sleep. And you will need to brush in the evening to get rid of any build-up that you accrue on your smile all day long.
You will also need to floss every day in order to remove plaque that can form between the teeth which a toothbrush cannot always reach. Each of these steps proves crucial to a good oral hygiene regimen.
Skipping any part of your routine may mean harmful residues linger on your smile where they can cause irreversible dental damage. If you stick to a consistent schedule for oral hygiene, you can ensure dangerous films are removed in a timely fashion.
Choose the Best Oral Hygiene Tools
To get your smile as clean as possible during your oral hygiene regimen, you want to use the best tools possible. Choose toothpaste that features the ADA seal to ensure that you use a product guaranteed to clean as well as necessary. Your toothbrush should feature unfrayed bristles. If the toothbrush seems worn, replace it.
Traditional string floss proves effective at cleaning properly between your teeth. But if you have braces, dental implants, or other appliances in your smile, you may benefit from alternative flossing tools. A water flosser, for instance, can offer more precision to clean your smile.
Use Proper Cleaning Techniques
When you brush your teeth, make sure you take the time to brush the surface of every tooth in your mouth. This ensures a thorough cleaning. Do not brush too harshly though, or you could irritate the gum tissue or tooth enamel.
Floss with care as well in order to maximize oral cleanliness. Maneuver your string with purpose if you use traditional floss. If using a water flosser, aim carefully between your teeth.
Schedule Regular Professional Teeth Cleanings
Your oral hygiene routine will be incomplete if you do not attend regular teeth cleanings at your dentist’s office. During these appointments, the dentist will scrape away plaque and tartar build-up in tricky locations in your smile where a toothbrush cannot easily access, such as near the gumline. You could form cavities or gum disease if these residues remain on your smile.
The average dental patient should schedule a dental cleaning every six months or so. Give your dentist a call today to book your dental check-up.