It takes a team to keep your mouth healthy, and you’re far and away the star player. We depend on you to maintain a healthy mouth on a daily basis so we can take care of the duties you can’t manage on your own – like filling cavities, determining bone health, taking X-Rays, etc…
Here’s what you can do for us:
- Brush your teeth after meals: This likely won’t come as a surprise but brushing your teeth throughout the day is one of the best things you can do to maintain oral health. Make the chore easier on yourself by stashing a toothbrush and toothpaste in convenient places: in your desk at work; in the glove compartment of your car; in your purse or gym bag.
- Floss daily: If you struggle with remembering to floss, make it part of a routine. Maybe it’s the first thing you do after lunch? Or maybe it’s the last thing you do before you go to bed? Work flossing in as a specific part of your daily regimen and it won’t be as easy to neglect.
- Avoid sugary foods: Sure, we all eat candy now and then, but do your best to limit your intake of food and liquids that are high in sugar. If you do consume them and don’t have a toothbrush handy, drink water to help flush your mouth out.
- Visit us as per your recommended schedule: Brushing your teeth at least twice daily helps to remove plaque, but it’s virtually impossible to get rid of all the plaque on your teeth. Eventually plaque turns into tartar, a substance that can lead to oral diseases and can only be removed by your hygienist. Regular visits to your dentist helps keep tartar under control and, in turn, helps keep your mouth healthy
- Don’t be shy: Be sure to let your dentist or hygienist know about any discomfort you have in your mouth. The smallest pains you can feel may not be visible to your hygienist and could mean something is happening beneath the surface of your teeth or gum line. Better safe than sorry.
- Be consistent: Regular oral care is the key to a healthy mouth. Don’t think that brushing your teeth 10 times a day the week before your appointment will make up for months of neglect. Brush often!
Remember, we only see your teeth when you are in the office. You see them every day. Follow these basic rules and you’ll have nothing to worry about the next time you come to the dentist, and more importantly, the next time you leave
