As many may know, bacteria live inside your mouth. From time to time, the bad bacteria can gain an advantage on the good due to lack of oral hygiene, habits, and other potential health issues. If this occurs, gum disease and tooth decay can flourish in side your mouth. The key to reducing the chance of this occurring is preventive dentistry. Your local Shrewsbury, Ma dentist discusses 3 tips to keep your mouth clean at home.
Tips 1: Brush Your Teeth
Bacteria work in tandem with plaque, the film-like substance that gathers between your teeth and along your gumline if you fail to brush on a regular basis. Unfortunately, plaque can harden into tartar, which leads to more serious issues like gum disease or tooth decay.
To keep plaque at bay, brush at least twice a day. The following list may help you understand how to brush your teeth effectively:
- Tilt your brush at a 45 degree angle and stroke in small, soft circles about the size of an individual tooth
- Brush the outer, the inner, and the occlusal surface for max coverage
- Remember to brush your tongue
Tip 2: Floss
Similar to brushing, floss assists in removing plaque and food particles from in between your teeth. In some cases, not flossing can lead to tooth decay and gum disease due to the overabundance in bacteria. The following list explains how you should floss on a daily basis:
- Detach about 18 inches of floss from its container
- Wrap the floss around your middle fingers, pinching it tightly between forefingers and thumbs
- Firmly hold the floss against the curve of each tooth and move it up and down gently
- Repeat for each set of teeth.
Tip 3: Mouth Rinse
It is not mandatory to use mouth rinse, but it can add a beneficial effect to your oral health. Using a oral health rinse once a day can help reduce the presence of plaque and bacteria. Patients tend to use their rinse either in the morning or in the evening after brushing and flossing. For most rinsing regimens, swish around in your mouth a small amount of rinse for about thirty seconds before spitting it into the sink.
Bonus Tip 4: Your Dentist
To ensure the health of your mouth, schedule at least two visits annually to your local Shrewsbury, Ma dentist for dental checkups and cleanings. This routine assists in reducing many of the serious oral issues developed over time otherwise. Your dentist will recommend your frequency of visits based on your smile needs.
ABOUT YOUR SHREWSBURY DENTISTS:
At Modern Dentistry, Todd A. Pizzi, DDS, and Luciana Messina, DDS, are dedicated to providing high-quality cosmetic, restorative, and preventive dentistry services to patients and families in Shrewsbury, Worcester, North and South Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Boylston, Hopkinton, Millbury, and all surrounding communities. To schedule your next appointment, contact our office by calling (508) 842-6356 today.
