Routine care will go a long way toward helping to care for your teeth and a healthy smile makes all the difference. Today, our Fort St. John dentists talk about routine dental care and how often you should brush and floss your teeth.
Preventive hygiene plays an important role when it comes to maintaining good oral health. Routine visits to our dental office for professional cleanings should be combined with regular at-home dental care.
During every visit, your dentist will remind you that brushing and flossing are important for eliminating bacteria and plaque that can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
In this post, our Fort St. John dentists will explain how often you should brush and give tips on proper techniques.
What is the best way to brush and floss?
If you follow these techniques and perform them consistently, you'll be on your way to great oral health.
Clean each surface of each tooth, including the chewing surface, the cheek side, and the tongue side. Brush in a sweeping motion at a 45-degree angle. On upper teeth, use a downward sweeping motion. When you get to your lower teeth, use an upward sweeping motion. Brush back and forth on chewing surfaces only.
Ideally, you should brush after each meal for 2 minutes each time (and no longer than four minutes). Wait at least 30 minutes after you eat to brush. At the very least, we recommend brushing twice per day and always before bedtime. You might want to try setting a timer to ensure your brushing routine is long enough.
Floss at least once every day, preferably before you go to bed in the evening. When you floss, you'll dislodge buildup and debris from food between your teeth in places you are unable to reach with your toothbrush. Insert the string of floss between two teeth and run it up and down the side of each, pulling it into a "c" shape in both directions. Go slowly and make sure to floss between all of your teeth.
The importance of dental examinations and professional cleanings.
Visiting your dentist every six months for a dental cleaning and exam is essential to maintaining your oral health.
Your dentist has the tools and knowledge needed to remove tartar and plaque buildup that does not come off with at-home brushing and flossing.
If you visit regularly, your dentist will also be able to detect dental problems in their early stages and begin treating them before they develop into bigger issues.
Oral health problems such as cavities, gum disease, cysts, and even tumours are often not noticeable to the untrained eye (even a patient's own eye) in their early stages, so it's important to have a dental professional assess your mouth regularly.