Maintain Your Dental Care Routine at Home
During the six months in between your routine dental appointments, we want to ensure you’re taking care of your teeth and gums to the best of your ability. We know how important your smile is in relation to your appearance and confidence, which is why we want you to thrive in every way possible when you’re not visiting our office. With these helpful tips from our dentist in Santa Rosa, your smile will shine all day, every day, and stay healthy, too!
Brushing Your Teeth
When you brush your teeth, remember to brush for at least two minutes. This gives you time to reach all areas of your mouth and provide a thorough cleaning. We recommend brushing each quadrant of your mouth for 30 seconds, which tackles a great cleaning and hits the two-minute mark.
When you’re brushing your teeth every morning and night, hold your toothbrush at an angle – about 45 degrees – where the bristles are pointed towards your gums. With this technique, you’re able to get those food particles and bacterial build-up that want to linger on or in between your teeth.
As you’re brushing, move your toothbrush in a circular motion instead of brushing back and forth. With this technique, you’re reaching all the surfaces of your teeth while also jostling and loosening up those stubborn food pieces. Of course, don’t forget to brush your teeth twice a day, every day!
Flossing Your Teeth
We recommend flossing your teeth at least once a day. This includes flossing in between every tooth, including the ones in the back. We understand that they’re a bit harder to reach, but don’t hesitate to ask our Santa Rosa dentist for helpful tips or tools to use so you can cover each area.
As you’re flossing, follow the curve of your teeth to avoid damaging your gums. If you used an aggressive up-and-down motion, you’re likely to add too much pressure, which may cause bleeding. You’ll want to cover as much space as you can reach with your floss, so we encourage you to check out instructional videos provided by the American Dental Association and other reputable organizations to take care of your smile.
Additional Oral Hygiene Tips
While mouthwash isn’t for everyone, it’s still an effective tool to cleanse your mouth. There are different available types of mouthwash, ranging from cosmetic to therapeutic. Overusing mouthwash can weaken the surface of your teeth (commonly known as the enamel) and give bacteria access to the nerves of your gums and teeth. Ask us about the best mouthwash for your oral health.
As you’re cleaning your tongue, put a small amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush and continue the circular motions like you would on your teeth. There are also tongue scrapers available, where you’ll gently drag the curved area to clean the surface. If you’re interested in learning more about available tongue scrapers, don’t hesitate to ask.
Of course, a healthy balanced diet is an important factor to a healthy smile. There are fruits and vegetables that are both good for your overall health and your dental health. Celery, carrots, apples and strawberries are all great foods to include in your diet for a stronger smile!
When you’re visiting our dentist in Santa Rosa for your routine dental appointment, be sure to schedule your next appointment while you’re there – you won’t have to worry about it in the future and we’ll contact you for a reminder once your next visit approaches. Call our office at (707) 571-7890 and we’ll assist in any questions or concerns you may have about your daily dental routine.
