You’ve been brushing your teeth since you were a little kid, so by now, you know what you’re doing, right? Well, maybe. You’d be surprised to learn how many of our patients at the dentist in Wetaskiwin are, at best, doing only a moderate job of cleaning their teeth. And that has a direct impact on their dental health.
These are the steps that we recommend to best take care of your teeth and gums:
1. Use a Soft Bristle Toothbrush
Soft bristle brushes are best for removing plaque and debris, while simultaneously massaging and cleansing along the gum line. Use whatever brush feels best in your hand, so long as it allows you to reach all of your teeth. Electric toothbrushes don’t necessarily do a better job, but they can be a real blessing to anyone with agility issues.
2. Brush for Two Minutes
Divide your mouth into four sections, and spend at least thirty seconds in each quarter. Get the chewing surfaces, the inside surfaces, the outside surfaces and gently massage the gums. Be sure to pay attention to the far side of the back tooth that is never visible but can collect food and allow cavities to begin.
3. Floss
Take two minutes to floss after brushing in the evening to remove any remnants the toothbrush couldn’t coax out and to clean any build-up. You have approximately 32 teeth and 32 gaps to floss clean. Two minutes should do the trick, but adding an extra minute for good measure can’t hurt.
4. Brush Three Times a Day
Brushing after every meal should remain the goal. This is difficult for many who are not home for the midday meal. To achieve extraordinary dental hygiene, brushing is a priority. There are as many toothpaste choices out there as you have teeth; without consistent brushing and flossing, those teeth are facing sure destruction.
At Wetaskiwin Family Dental in Wetaskiwin, we provide our patients with cosmetic dentistry, general dentistry, sedation dentistry, Invisalign clear braces, and dental implants.