06 May Brushing Up on Dental Hygiene Basics
Are you cleaning your mouth correctly? Your oral hygiene routine is an important aspect of preventing oral health conditions like tooth decay and gum disease. If you’re not brushing your teeth correctly and flossing, you’re increasing your risks for developing diseases that can literally destroy your teeth, gums, and facial bones. If you have questions about your oral health and dental hygiene, our dentist and our team are happy to help.
Following is a rundown on the best brushing and flossing techniques.
Brushing Thoroughly
Many people do not spend enough time brushing. If you’re spending less than two minutes brushing your teeth, you don’t have enough to time adequately clean all the surfaces of your teeth, gums, and tongue. Try dividing your mouth up into quadrants and spend 30 seconds thoroughly brushing each one to ensure a thorough clean.
Gentle Oral Hygiene Practices are Best
Sometimes, people think brushing harder will produce cleaner results. Vigorous brushing is actually bad for your oral health because it can weaken tooth enamel and inflame your gums. Instead of brushing with force, practice cleaning your teeth with gentle, circular motions. Let the bristles of your toothbrush and your toothpaste do the work for you.
Floss Every Day
Flossing is not something you can skip. Even if you brush your teeth properly it’s impossible to clean adequately between teeth and just below the gum line. If you skip flossing, you’re increasing your risk for developing gum disease. Advanced gum disease requires professional treatment from a dentist because it can lead to tooth loss, bone deterioration, and systemic oral infections.
Make sure you use dental floss that’s approved by the American Dental Association. If you’re worried about comfort, consider trying waxed dental floss and use very gentle motions to move floss between teeth so you don’t cut into the gums. When flossing, thread a clean section of floss between each tooth. Using dirty floss to clean new sections of your teeth and gums can transfer debris and bacteria.
If it’s time for a checkup or cleaning, call our practice to schedule an appointment with our dentist, Dr. Philip Kozlow.