Has your daily oral hygiene routine stalled out at the first, most basic level of care? Let’s make sure it doesn’t stay that way!
Our Glendale dentists have put together this short article explaining how you can more effectively care for your smile at home. These are changes you can make right away, so your smile will stay as healthy as possible.
Use new tools
As time goes on your toothbrush breaks down, and it becomes less effective. Old, frayed bristles are not very effective at cleaning plaque and dental debris from your smile. That is why the ADA recommends that you replace your toothbrush every three to four months. You also want to swap your old brush for a new one if you’ve been ill, as old bristles can harbor bacteria.
Be patient
Many of us rush through our oral hygiene routines—but this is a big mistake! Every time that you clean your smile you want to be brushing for about two minutes. It really does take that long to thoroughly and effectively clean your smile. Set a timer for two minutes the next time you brush; you’ll likely find that you haven’t been devoting enough time to brushing.
Use a light hand
You want a clean and healthy smile, but cleaning your teeth isn’t the same as cleaning the floors—when it comes to your smile, vigorous scrubbing can actually be harmful. Now that you are brushing your teeth for a full two minutes, make sure that you are applying very gentle pressure the whole time. This allows you to clean your smile and minimize your risk of developing enamel erosion and gum tissue damage.
If you have any more questions about optimizing your oral hygiene routine, our Glendale dentists are happy to help!