Oral Hygiene at Home

When you visit Made Ya Smile Dental in Katy, Texas, for a cleaning and exam with Dr. Michael Kesner, you are taking an important step to ensure that your teeth are healthy and clean. However, what do you do between visits? Practicing good oral hygiene at home will help keep your smile strong and healthy.

First, be choosy about what you eat. Foods that are high in sugar and starches, can promote tooth decay when they come into contact with the plaque in your mouth. Foods that can strengthen your teeth include raw vegetables and cheese. Speaking of cheese, both cheese and milk contain calcium, which is important for keeping your teeth in good shape.

Second, check your brushing habits. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles, and a toothpaste containing fluoride. Hold your brush at a 45 degree angle to your teeth, and gently brush all the surfaces of your teeth. Ideally, you should spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth every day. Your tongue also contains bacteria that can cause tooth decay and bad breath, and you should brush it at least twice a day as well.

Third, floss your teeth at least once a day. Many people choose to floss just before bed. As you floss, make sure your curve the floss around each tooth and floss below the gumline. As long as you brush and floss effectively, it doesn’t matter which you do first. If you have trouble with dental floss dues to range-of motion issues, you might want to try a water-flosser.

Good oral hygiene is essential to keeping your mouth and teeth at their best. But it does not replace regular visits to your dentist for a cleaning and exam.