Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is important for your smile and your confidence, and it’s important for overall wellness, too. Yet many people unwittingly damage their gums and teeth with home hygiene mistakes that can be easily fixed.
Our team at Oasis Dental Team PC in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania help patients enjoy optimal oral health with state-of-the-art treatments and guidance to improve home care habits. In this post, learn about five mistakes that can damage teeth and gums so you can take steps to correct them.
Brushing twice a day is the cornerstone of good oral hygiene, but the key is to do it the right way. That means brushing twice each day for at least two minutes, paying attention to every tooth surface and using the right technique (shown here).
Use a soft-bristled brush combined with small, circular motions to avoid irritating your gums (a “side effect” of aggressive brushing that can lead to receding gums). Hold your brush against your gumline, angled at about 45 degrees. And don’t forget to brush your tongue to get rid of bacteria that cause bad breath.
You’ve almost certainly heard this one before, but it’s so important, it bears repeating. Flossing once each day is essential for oral health.
Brushing is important, but it can’t remove all the plaque that builds up between your teeth. Flossing using the proper technique (shown here) helps gently remove sticky plaque from hard-to-reach spaces, reducing your risk of gum disease.
Ideally, you’ll floss right before bed (and before brushing) to loosen plaque so it can be removed by your brush. Mouthwash is no substitute for flossing, but you can use a water flosser if regular dental floss is too hard to manage.
Brushing immediately after eating might seem like a smart way to prevent cavities, but you might actually be doing more harm than good. That’s because for about a half hour after meals or snacks, acids in your mouth increase to aid in digestion, temporarily softening your tooth enamel.
Brushing during that half-hour period can lead to enamel damage that in turn can increase your risk of cavities and other troubles. If you need to freshen right after eating, try swishing with water or mouthwash instead.
It’s great when you find a toothbrush you’re comfortable using, but that doesn’t mean it’s OK to use it forever. In fact, your toothbrush needs to be replaced about every 3-4 months, about the time it takes for the bristles to begin to wear down or fray.
Toothbrush bristles play a central role in removing sticky plaque and food debris. As the bristles wear down, they become less and less effective.
That old brush is also chock full of bacteria — the same bacteria that causes gum disease, infections, and tooth loss. Some germs can lead to other health problems, like colds or respiratory problems.
Finally, one of the worst hygiene mistakes you can make is delaying or neglecting regular dental checkups. Checkups are important for preventing cavities and gum disease and also for spotting problems in their earliest stages.
During your visit, our team removes plaque and tartar that contribute to gum disease and infections. Plus, we look for other problems, like tiny cracks or cavities that benefit from early care.
We also perform an oral cancer exam to look for unusual tissue changes that require evaluation. And of course, we provide plenty of guidance to help you improve your at-home routine to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible between visits.
Proper oral hygiene doesn’t have to be complex or time-consuming. Paying attention to your brushing and flossing techniques and seeing our team twice a year for checkups can give you a healthier, more beautiful smile and a boost in confidence.
To schedule your checkup, call 484-278-4134 or request an appointment online today at Tomase Dental Care.
