Do You Know Your Dental Hygiene Basics?
Your mouth is the gateway to your entire body. It stands to reason, then, that a consistent oral hygiene routine can have a positive impact on your overall health. Good oral hygiene starts at home. Let’s review the basics so you and your family can keep your teeth healthy for a lifetime.
What It Means to Brush for Two Minutes
“Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day,” is such common knowledge that it’s almost cliché to even point it out. But when you ask how to use that time effectively, many people are stumped. If you want to brush in a way that keeps your teeth healthy, follow these tips:
- Brush Evenly — If you’re brushing without a plan of attack, you’re cleaning unevenly, and this may lead to problems down the line. If you divide your mouth into sections, front, back, and top for the top and bottom rows of teeth, then you’ll have six areas to work. If you gently brush each section for twenty seconds at a time, you’ll be using your time a lot more effectively and giving all your teeth equal attention!
- Brush Gums — Your gums hold your teeth in place, so brushing only your teeth is a lot like only washing the outside of a glass after you drink from it. You’re leaving out a very important part. If you want healthy, disease-free gums, taking a moment to gently brush them goes a long way.
- Brush Electronically — Soft-bristled electric toothbrushes are simply more effective than a standard manual toothbrush. The bristles vibrate in a way that cleans much more deeply than the best standard toothbrush. There are plenty of affordable options to choose from, and a well-maintained electric toothbrush lasts a long time.
Floss Effectively
Flossing is a process that’s easy to get wrong. Thankfully, we’re here to help! It’s not enough to pop the thread in and back out; that’ll leave so much plaque untouched. An effective flosser pulls the thread under the tooth as far as is comfortable and scrapes it up against the enamel as they remove the floss. Make sure you get both sides of each tooth, and don’t forget the back sides of your rear molars.
One More Piece of Advice
If you follow our tips, you’ll be on the path to great dental health. But there’s one additional step you need to take, and that’s visiting Caring Dental of Spotswood located in Spotswood, NJ. Our team is here to help you refine your dental care routine and provide regular screenings and professional cleanings! Call our office to schedule an appointment!
