05 Jan Your Daily Oral Hygiene Routine Matters
While you should be seeing your dentist every six months for cleanings and check-ups, your daily oral hygiene practices is just as important as professional care for maintaining oral health. These habits will help you minimize the presence of oral bacteria between your visits to our office.
You may know the basics of a good oral hygiene routine, but it’s important to consider a number of aspects related to brushing and flossing. Read on to learn about the more detailed considerations for these valuable oral hygiene habits.
Benefits of Good Home Oral Hygiene
Why is your home oral hygiene regimen so important? It helps you keep your smile as healthy as possible between your visits to the dentist. Daily brushing and flossing help to reduce the accumulation of plaque and tartar, which contain disease-causing oral bacteria.
When you don’t keep plaque and tartar in check, you may develop the following oral health issues:
- Cavities
- Gum Disease
- Abscesses
- Tooth Loss
Additionally, your oral health is related to your systemic health. For example, periodontal disease is associated with a higher risk of various health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, dementia and depression. Good oral hygiene benefits your body along with your smile.
Healthy Oral Hygiene Habits to Practice Every Day
Brushing and flossing are the foundation of an effective daily oral hygiene routine. Keep in mind that the tools and techniques that you use will heavily influence the effectiveness of these routines.
For brushing, use a soft-bristled brush and apply gentle pressure. Brushing too harshly can damage your gum tissue. You should be brushing twice each day, for two minutes each session. Shorter brushing periods are ineffective, while no additional benefits are gained from longer sessions.
You should floss once each day, ideally before one of your brushing sessions. Make sure to floss thoroughly along the gumline, using floss threaders if needed to navigate around dental appliances.
There may be other recommended oral hygiene practices for some patients. Check with your dentist to make sure that your routine is meeting your needs.
Is your oral hygiene routine sufficient? Call Kozlow & Rowell Dentistry to ask any questions that you may have or check in on this topic at your next office visit. We want to make sure we’re helping you do everything possible to maintain your smile between your checkups and cleanings.