Good dental hygiene is as much about what you do as what you don’t do. For instance, not grinding your teeth together is as important as brushing and flossing them every day. As the most-used parts of your entire body, keeping your teeth clean and healthy is vitally important, and might be more complex than many people realize. Therefore, knowing what to do and what not to do can mean the difference between guarding and harming your smile.
Dental Do’s
The idea behind good dental hygiene is to control the buildup of plaque on your teeth, which is made from and contains hundreds of bacteria types that can infect your teeth and gums. To combat plaque, be sure to:
- Brush and floss your teeth at least twice every day, especially before bedtime
- Eat a well-balanced breakfast before brushing your teeth in the morning (it will kick-start your flow of saliva, which neutralizes and rinses away bacteria)
- Attend a dental checkup and cleaning as often as your dentist recommends
- Refrain from excessively indulging on sugary and acidic foods and beverages, which can erode the strong, protective layer of enamel around your teeth
Dental Don’ts
Even when you don’t realize it, little things can undo your efforts at good hygiene by placing your teeth at risk of damage, tooth decay, or worse. To ensure that habits and neglect don’t threaten your healthy smile, we recommend that you DON’T:
- Scrub your teeth harder to try and get them cleaner; harsh scrubbing can strip your teeth of enamel
- Assume your teeth are healthy; without a professional checkup, dental issues can develop and progress far before you notice them
- Skip a brushing or flossing; plaque doesn’t take long to form, and it doesn’t take long to calcify (harden) into tartar that your toothbrush can’t remove
To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling our office at (203) 878-6699. The specialists at Sensitive Care Cosmetic & Family Dentistry proudly serve patients and their families in Milford, Stratford, West Haven, New Haven, and all surrounding communities.