The Best Ways to Care for Your Teeth!

Good oral health begins at home!  While regular visits to your dentist for check ups and cleanings are important, it won’t do much good if you are not taking care of matters in your own bathroom.  Here are  a few recommendations from Dr. Todd Beck at South Waterfront Dental to help you keep your choppers healthy:

Brushing Techniques to Clean Teeth

Brush with a soft toothbrush at least three times a day.  Brushing removes plaque, a sticky bacterial film, from around the teeth and gums.  If allowed to remain on the teeth, plaque hardens and turns into calculus which will cause tooth decay and gum disease.

You should take at least two minutes to brush your teeth, and preferably longer for a thorough clean.  With so many surfaces it takes that long to do an effective job.  Though any soft toothbrush will do the job, Dr. Beck recommends the Sonicare system, which does an amazing job of removing stain and plaque. These kinds of systems also have convenient, automatic timers, so you can just turn them on, brush, and go!

Floss for Good Measure

You should floss your teeth at least once a day.  Flossing removes the plaque from between the teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach.  In addition to brushing, flossing is critical for preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Our friendly, helpful staff at South Waterfront Dental will teach you the best techniques for effective flossing at home.

A Crunchy Diet

When we eat, food is deposited that encourages the development of plaque if it’s not brushed away. One way to keep plaque from forming even when you’re not near a toothbrush is to stay away from sticky, sugary foods which cling to the surfaces of your teeth. Crunchy foods – like celery, apples, and carrots – help naturally clean teeth while you eat.

Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to discourage the formation of plaque, and brush and floss each day to keep your smile healthy and bright!

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