Keeping regular appointments with a dental professional helps many patients improve and maintain their smile. But when the dentist has completed treatment, there are at least six months before your next visit, where health, function, and beauty can be compromised without practicing proper preventive care at home.
There are a multitude of convenient oral health techniques that you can practice at home to minimize decay and prevent infection, while also making your teeth bright and aesthetically pleasing. At Mary Dini, DDS, our team of dedicated professionals ensures each patient understands how they can take smile improvement methods into their own hands.
Start with Brushing
Most patients understand the importance of brushing and flossing twice daily, but few give much thought to the technique and tools used in the process. It is most advantageous to spend a full two minutes gently brushing at a 45 angle and ensuring all surfaces are cleaned.
The type of toothbrush used can play a large part in how effective your routine is. Use a brush with soft, contoured bristles that can easily reach all areas of teeth and gums. There are a variety of standard and electric toothbrushes that provide these features. For the full range of benefits, replace your brush every three months.
Don’t Forget to Floss and Rinse
Flossing at least once a day helps combat periodontal issues while thoroughly removing plaque between teeth, especially near the gums. Some experience sensitivity if they haven’t flossed for some time, but if you are experiencing consistent bleeding, you may need to seek treatment for gum disease.
There are a variety of over the counter mouthwashes that help bolster an at-home care routine. By rinsing with an ADA approved mouthwash for 60 seconds, in conjunction with consistent brushing and flossing, you combat bad breath, plaque, and gingivitis.
Making Healthy Diet and Lifestyle Choices
Your dietary choices have a significant impact on your oral health. Foods containing large amounts of sugar can lead to significant decay. Dark foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, or wine can stain tooth enamel. By limiting your consumption of these foods and beverages and rinsing soon after, your smile can remain bright in between appointments.
Tobacco is not only bad for your overall health, it has quite the adverse effect on your teeth. Quitting this harmful habit is the only solution to keep nicotine from causing discoloration and dulling the brightness of your teeth. Some bad habits like biting your nails or chewing on a pen can lead to cracks and fractures in your teeth. While most people don’t recognize how damaging these behaviors can be, your dentist can provide you with helpful tips to break you of these habits.
Contact Us Today
At our practice, our San Mateo dentists love providing patients with educational tips to keep their smiles healthy and aesthetically pleasing. If you’re looking for a dental practice with an unmatched dedication to patient care, call our San Mateo office today to set up an appointment.