Cleaning your teeth is a basic essential for your oral health foundation. At Rimrock Dental of Redmond, we teach our patients in Redmond, Oregon, that excellent oral hygiene habits, combined with a balanced diet and regular six-month dental checkups will help create the confident smile they desire.
Today’s blog centers on helping you avoid brushing mistakes while making the most of your daily oral hygiene efforts.
– Whether you use a standard toothbrush or a powered one, use a soft-bristled brush to remove oral debris and plaque under the gums. Also, smaller toothbrush heads fit better in the mouth for cleaning, including the molars in the back that are hard to reach.
– Replacing your toothbrush as soon as the bristles fray and lose their shape is crucial. We recommend replacing them every 3 months or sooner if they fray. You will also want to replace them when you have had a contagious illness such as a cold to avoid reinfection.
– Don’t brush too hard! You don’t want to scrub your teeth, you want to massage them. The plaque and oral debris aren’t cemented in your smile, so a gentle massaging will work just fine without wearing down enamel or stressing sensitive gum tissue.
– Don’t brush less than 2 minutes a day at least twice a day.
– Don’t share your toothbrush, to avoid contamination. Store your toothbrush upright without touching anything to air dry in between uses, to prevent mold and bacteria.
– Don’t brush left to right as you clean. Starting at the gum line, brush up and down, using small, circular motions, cleaning all of your tooth surfaces. Angle your toothbrush to reach the inside of the front teeth.
– Bacteria like to hide in the gum crevices, so don’t skip brushing around them. This means holding your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gumline. Bacteria collects on the tongue so brush the tongue from back to front and then rinse well.
– Don’t brush right after eating. Wait 15-20 minutes to allow your saliva to neutralize the acids before you brush. If you can’t wait, then rinse with water first, to dilute the acid.
At least once a day, be sure to brush, floss, and use an oral rinse to remove bacteria from the mouth. Practicing good daily oral hygiene will help you maintain a healthier smile for years to come. If you have further questions or want to schedule your next visit, please call 541-699-4200. Our dentist, Dr. Jade Cherrington, and dental team are happy to help you with all your smile needs!