It’s important to know how to best take care of your teeth whether you’re staying at home for extended periods of time or if regular day-to-day life has resumed. People find themselves having to go to the dentist with a dental emergency in either scenario… and you want to minimize your chances of having to do that.
Therefore, you should create a basic routine for each day and have it center around certain things you do for your oral hygiene. The hard part can be ensuring that you are indeed on the correct path. Sticking with a bad habit or not paying attention to the state of your tools or what you put into your mouth can lead you astray.
Here are some questions you should be asking yourself as you work toward having healthy oral habits:
Am I Brushing My Teeth Enough?
You may think that you are spending enough time doing this, but if you actually time yourself, you may find yourself stopping way shorter than you should. This is not an area that you should skimp on. The best way to ensure that you do this is to use an electric toothbrush and devote 30 seconds to each quadrant of your mouth. That’s four quadrants and will be 120 seconds… or two minutes. Make sure the brush hits each spot in the quadrant. Do this twice a day.
Am I Using the Correct Toothpaste?
There are a LOT of toothpastes out there of all different flavors and types, each boasting help in different aspects of oral health. Some claim to help control tartar while others say they can repair enamel. There are two things that you should look for when picking one – does it have fluoride in it and does the American Dental Association approve it? If the answer to both is “Yes”, then it’s a good choice. Make sure that you have a strong oral base before deciding to try other toothpastes.
Am I Flossing Enough?
It’s easy to fall into a trap of not flossing, especially if you’re using an electric toothbrush. You figure that the brush is doing enough work, but that’s not the case. As fast as the bristles spin, there are areas that they can’t reach and food particles can remain lodged in between gums. That can then cause decay and worn enamel. So floss daily. Be thorough and also use a dental pick to get to certain areas in the back of your mouth that you can’t reach by flossing alone.
Am I Using The Right Mouthwash?
Brushing and flossing can both get rid of a lot of things that can cause problems in your mouth. Still, there’s a final step that you should use for your oral health routine each day – mouthwash. Get a mouthwash that the ADA approves and follow the directions. Mouthwash with fluoridecan help strengthen tooth enamel. Follow the directions. Preferably without alcohol.
Am I Replacing My Toothbrushes at the Right Intervals?
Unlike that rock band T-shirt that you just can’t bring yourself to throw out – hey it was a GREAT concert – you should be replacing your toothbrush every three months. Otherwise the bristles will get worn and frayed and be far less effective. Pay attention to how your toothbrush looks. If someone sees it and asks if you have been using it to clean the bathroom floor… change it. There are very inexpensive, yet effective, electric toothbrushes that you can buy online or at your local store.
What Products Should I Avoid?
The main one that you should stop doing is using tobacco products. That means either smoking or using chewing tobacco or dip. The second one can be especially harmful/dangerous since they can cause oral cancer, while also leaving hard-to-remove stains on your teeth. Smokers get more tartar on their teeth and it also affects how saliva flows in your mouth – which can then lead to bacteria forming.
What Kind Of Food Should I Eat?
Ideally, you will eat a healthy diet that has foods rich in calcium, phosphorus, and Vitamin C. This means having milk, eggs, fish, citrus fruits, lean meat, almonds, tomatoes, broccoli and spinach. While sugary foods can be quite tempting, the sugar can wear away at your enamel if not immediately brushed off. Eat them in moderation.
If you ask yourself these basic questions, then you should be in good shape in terms of warding off dental problems. Planning out your weekly grocery shopping can be such a huge boost, for example. You can make sure that you don’t wind up grazing on the wrong foods.
The staff at US Dental Medical will gladly help you have the best teeth and gums possible. Give them a call to set up an appointment for a cleaning – 614-252-3181.
Published By:
US Dental and Medical Care
949 E Livingston Ave,
Columbus, OH 43205
Phone: (614) 252-3181
Website: https://usdentalmedical.com
