Keeping Your Teeth Healthy In-Between Visits

keeping teeth healthy in between visitsKeeping your mouth clean and healthy is very important. By looking after your teeth and gums, through a combination of proper at-home care practices and regular dental checkups, you can avoid tooth decay and gum disease, and maintain a healthy smile.

As recommended by Dr. Sona Asatryan, Pasadena dentist, you should visit your dentist every six months for professional cleaning and dental checkup. During these visits, the dentist removes accumulated bacteria, plaque, and other stains from your teeth and gums, and also checks for early signs of dental issues, like cavities, gum disease, and even oral cancer.

While these checkups are important, exercising good oral hygiene in between appointments is just as important. Here are some things to do:

1. Brush your teeth twice a day.
It is important to brush your teeth after every meal, but most importantly, once when you wake up and again before going to bed at night. Regular brushing helps to remove food debris and prevent the buildup of bacteria and plaque that may lead to cavities and gum inflammation.

2. Use proper brushing techniques.

Besides brushing your teeth for at least two minutes per session, you should hold your brush at a 45-degree angle and brush each tooth gently for a minimum of 10-15 times, while the bristles remain angled against your gumline. Clean all the surfaces – inner, outer, and chewing surface – removing as much bacteria and plaque as possible. Remember to brush the root of your mouth and the tongue to keep your mouth feeling and smelling fresh.

3. Floss daily.

There is no brushing technique that allows you to reach in between the teeth with your toothbrush. These gaps between your teeth are good spots for bacteria to hide, and are usually where tooth decay starts. Flossing helps to get rid of bacteria in the hard-to-reach nooks and crannies of your mouth.

4. Change your toothbrush regularly.
Experts recommend that you change your toothbrush every 2-3 months, or when the bristles of become worn and frayed, or after recovering from an illness. Using an old, worn toothbrush can be very dangerous. It cannot effectively remove bacteria and plaque from your teeth. In fact, a worn toothbrush can harm your gums and possibly push bacteria deeper into the gum line, leading to gum disease.

Lastly, it is important that you watch your diet. You should cut down on acidic and sugary foods that feed the bacteria in your mouth and increase the risk of tooth decay. Additionally, drinks like tea, coffee, and wine can stain your teeth. So, make sure to rinse your mouth with clean water every time you consume these foods and drinks, and incorporate enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet for strong, healthy teeth.

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