When you brush and floss, you help protect the health and beauty of your smile. However, many people who think they’re cleaning their teeth properly, haven’t been! In today’s blog, your Richfield, MN, dentist explains how to correctly brush and floss, and why you should always make time to see us for a regular checkup and cleaning!
The Benefits of Daily Cleaning
When we care for our teeth each day, this provides an opportunity to remove trapped food particles from on and between our teeth. The process helps prevent harmful bacteria from reaching and consuming these particles, a process that elevates the levels of oral acidity in the smile and then coats the teeth in a bacterial byproduct known as plaque. As the buildup accumulates and hardens into tartar, this erodes outer enamel and inflames gum tissues to boost the risk of cavities and gum disease. However, routine care helps prevent these complications, as well as bad breath and discoloration.
Brushing and Flossing Properly
How do we care for our teeth each day? Kids and adults alike need to brush their teeth twice daily for about two minutes each session, once in the morning and again before bed. Be sure to use an age-appropriate toothbrush, and one with soft bristles, as this helps prevent inadvertent enamel damage if you brush too rough with medium or hard bristles. Patients of all ages should also choose a toothpaste that has fluoride, as this helps strengthen the protective layer of outer enamel.
Whole effective, brushing your teeth alone cannot reach and remove all trapped food particles. You also need to floss, and kids should start flossing as soon as there are teeth sitting side-by-side. Be sure your move the floss up and down each side of every tooth, and dip below the gum line when you do. These actions help protect your smile’s health and beauty!
Professional Cleanings
Every six months, you also need to see our team for a cleaning. This process employs a manual tool and an ultrasonic scaler to remove all buildup from the teeth. The process is key, along with brushing and flossing, to protecting smiles from the onset of issues like tooth decay or periodontal disease. If you have any questions about keeping smiles healthy from home, or about the value of a routine dental cleaning, then please contact our team today.
Your Richfield, MN Dentist’s Office Provides Preventive Dentistry
At our Richfield, MN dentist’s office, our team understands how to care for smiles both at home and in our office. To find out more about improving the health and beauty of your smile, or to schedule your next visit, then please call Cedar West Family Dentistry at (612) 861-7188.
