You’ve been doing it since you were five. You switch to auto pilot morning and night and go through it. But the team at Love Your Smile dentistry in Kelowna asks: are you doing it right?
Actually, a lot of people make mistakes when they brush their teeth. You may need to tweak your routine to better sustain your oral health and guard your smile from cavities and gum disease.
Here are useful tooth brushing tips:
1. Take your time.
You probably want to get it over with and go to bed. But brushing your teeth takes time and attention. Time yourself the next time you brush—you might be surprised at how swiftly you finish. The process should take at least two to three minutes. It can also be useful to take a different route around your mouth every few days. By adjusting your routine, you approach areas from a different, and possibly, better angle.
2. Don’t forget to floss.
No matter how agile you can be with your brush, it’s difficult to clear away the plaque from all those narrow gaps between your teeth. That is where bacteria can easily propagate and start the decay process.
3. Use the right toothbrush.
It is ironic that some people impair their enamel or gums because they brush too vigorously with a hard brush. We counsel patients to only use a soft brush. If you’ve had gum grafts, you may want to use an extra soft brush.
4. Don’t keep your tooth brush near the toilet.
This is horrible to think about, but each time the toilet is flushed, bacteria is sent far into the air—even if you close the lid. Keep your toothbrush in a clean place and allow it to air dry.
5. Use fluoride toothpaste.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but you may be surprised that some oral care products don’t contain fluoride. And you may think fluoride is only for children. Not true. Your enamel is consistently under assault from acidic foods and drinks and fluoride helps it remineralize.
So there you have it, five tips for improving your dental health regimen! Here’s one more: see us at Love Your Smile in Kelowna every six months for a cleaning and checkup. Our services include general and cosmetic dentistry. Call our office today to schedule your next appointment.
Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:
250-860-8900
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7
