While our team loves helping patients improve their oral health with our dental services, the main portion of your oral care should be occurring at home between visits. Good oral health habits are essential to your smile and your overall health.
Brushing daily is a great place to start when establishing an at-home dental routine. We also recommend following these tips!
- Upgrade to a Fresh Toothbrush
- Floss Every Day
- Use Mouthwash
- Invest in a Nightguard
- Brush Your Tongue
When was the last time you changed out your manual toothbrush? The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every three months. After three months, bacteria can accumulate in the head and worn down bristles make the toothbrush less effective at cleaning. An electric toothbrush needs to have its heads replaced every three months too.
Do you floss occasionally or a few times a week? Make it every day! Daily removing plaque and trapped food from between your teeth and under your gums will decrease your risk of bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease.
Rinsing with an alcohol-free antigingivitis mouthwash helps kill bacteria to reduce plaque buildup and your risk of cavities.
If you grind and clench your teeth at night, invest in a custom nightguard to protect your teeth and jaw. A nightguard will reduce enamel erosion, jaw pain, and headaches while helping you sleep better.
There are a lot of crevices and bumps on your tongue that can trap bacteria and food debris. Brushing your tongue can lessen bad breath and clean away bacteria that could transfer to your teeth and gums.
Schedule Your Next Cleaning!
At your next appointment, our dental team can give you personalized recommendations on improving your oral health habits at home. Please contact us today to book your cleaning and checkup at Ballston Dental Care!
