Sometimes it’s easy to let the little things slide. However, oral health is no small thing! You cannot afford to forget the basics of at-home dental care.
First, flossing is vital for your oral health–don’t miss it! Floss (or use another interdental cleaner) once a day. It only takes 2-3 minutes to clean in between all of your teeth, and it will be 2-3 minutes very well spent. Don’t forget to clean behind your back molars. If interdental cleaning with conventional floss is difficult for you, talk to your dentist about other interdental cleaning options, such as pre-strung flossers,water flossing, or floss for sensitive gums. It doesn’t matter if you floss before or after you brush, as long as it gets done.
Remember to brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day. This basic step removes food debris and plaque from the surfaces of your teeth, provided you use proper technique. Choose a brush with soft bristles–hard bristles irritate and damage the gums and enamel. Brush back and forth with short, tooth-wide strokes, using gentle pressure. Brush the outer surfaces, inner surfaces, and chewing surfaces of your teeth. Don’t forget to clean the inner surfaces of your front teeth. Do this by tipping the brush upward (or downward, for the bottom teeth) into the mouth and scrub gently with several up-and-down strokes.
Support your at-home efforts by visiting Dr. Timothy Collier regularly (at least once every 6 months). To schedule an appointment in Manchester, Iowa, call Dental Associates of Manchester at 563-927-4746. Our team will be happy to see you!