6 Tips Toward a Great Looking Smile
At our cosmetic dentistry in Springfield, Oregon, we know that everyone wants a great looking and healthy smile. While scheduling regular exams and cleanings offer a great start to enjoying a brilliantly bright smile for a lifetime, you also need to remain committed to practicing quality oral hygiene at home. To help give your smile the boost it needs to stay looking its best, here are a few tips on how you can improve your daily oral hygiene routine.
Brush Twice a Day
What you heard as a kid from your parents is just as true now as it was then – you need to brush at least twice a day. Brushing helps to remove harmful oral bacteria and food particles that linger in the mouth after eating and along the gum line. When these substances are allowed to remain in the mouth, they contribute to the development of dental decay and disease that can cause serious lasting damage to your smile.
Floss Daily
While much as been made in the news recently about whether flossing actually helps to protect your oral health, at our cosmetic dentistry in Springfield, Oregon we still recommend flossing to all of our patients. That’s because flossing helps to remove plaque and food particles from areas of your mouth a toothbrush cannot reach – between your teeth and below the gum line.
If you’re still not convinced of flossing’s importance, consider this fact: The most common place for cavities to form is actually between our teeth.
Change is Good
While your toothbrush ranks as the best tool for the job of cleaning your teeth, even the most trusty of tools can need replacing. The daily use of your toothbrush causes the bristle to become worn and broken, making them less effective at cleaning your teeth. To make sure every brush stroke is as effective as possible, change out your toothbrush once every two to three months.
Spend Enough Time Brushing
We’ve already covered the importance of brushing at least twice a day, but it’s just as important that you spend the right amount of time brushing as well. Your mouth contains a lot of hard to clean areas that can be easily missed if you don’t dedicate enough time to brushing. The American Dental Association recommends spending at least two minutes brushing each time you pick up your toothbrush. If you’re not sure how much time you spend brushing, consider setting a timer on your phone for two minutes or brush somewhere you can easily see a clock.
Brush Using the Right Angle
Like many things in life, brushing is an art form that needs to be done correctly. Never brush horizontally along the gum line as this may actually cause abrasions to develop on your teeth and could cause your gums to recede. Instead, place the bristles of your brush at a 45-degree angle starting at the gum line and brush up and down using short, circular motions. Move the angle of your brush vertically to brush the inside surface of your teeth.
Clean Your Tongue
A healthy tongue should appear bright pink in color. However, if you look into the mirror to see a tongue that’s slightly whitish in appearance, you’re staring at an accumulation of foul smelling bacteria. Improve your breath and oral health by spending a minute brushing your tongue at least once a day.
Tips from Our Cosmetic Dentistry in Springfield, Oregon
That’s it! Simply follow these basic tips and you’ll dramatically improve the health and appearance of your teeth now and into the future. If you have any questions about the best practices for improving your oral health, feel free to ask any member of our team during your next visit to McKenzie River Dental.