We know that we should brush and floss our teeth each day, but do you know why this is so important and when you should be doing so? Here, our Delta dentists talk about how to properly clean your teeth and how often you should be brushing and flossing for a healthy smile.
Proper oral hygiene is crucial to your oral health. Brushing and flossing at home, along with professional cleanings and examinations help to ensure that your smile stays healthy both now and for years to come.
While at your dental exam visit, you are also able to discuss any concerns that you may have and your dentist will be able to offer recommendations.
In this post, our Delta dentists talk more about the benefits of routine oral hygiene and care.
How to Brush and Floss Your Teeth
While you know that you should brush and floss your teeth, you may still wonder how often it should be done and how to do it properly.
When it comes to brushing your teeth, our dentists recommend brushing for at least two minutes. A little longer is fine but do not brush for longer than 4 minutes total. Acidity can wear down the enamel of your teeth, so you should wait at least 30 minutes after you've finished eating to brush your teeth. At the very least, we recommend brushing twice per day and always before bedtime. You might want to try setting a timer to ensure your brushing routine is long enough. You should be flossing once a day. We often recommend doing this during your bedtime oral hygiene routine in order to provide a thorough cleaning before sleeping.
While you are brushing your teeth you should be sure to cover the surface of each tooth, including the chewing surface, the cheek side, and the tongue side. Teeth brushing should always be done in a sweep motion at a 45-degree angle. On upper teeth, use a downward sweeping motion. When you get to your lower teeth, use an upward sweeping motion. The only place that you should be using the back-and-forth motion is on the chewing surface of your teeth.
As mentioned above, we suggest flossing during your bedtime routine. When you floss, you'll dislodge buildup and debris from food between your teeth in places you are unable to reach with your toothbrush. Insert the string of floss between two teeth and run it up and down the side of each, pulling it into a "c" shape in both directions. You should take all the time you need while flossing to ensure that you don't miss any crevices.
The Importance of a Daily Oral Hygiene Routine
You should schedule a professional dental cleaning and exam performed by our dentists in Delta every six months.
During your dental visit, the dentist will perform an exam, take any X-rays and allow you the opportunity to discuss any dental or oral health concerns that you may have. They will also likely perform a dental cleaning to remove any plaque buildup that has occurred since your last visit. This is crucial to help prevent the buildup of cavity-causing bacteria.
These visits will give your dentist the chance ti spot and address any potential issues before they become too serious.
It is crucial to visit the dentist for routine examinations. During these exams, your dentist will be able to spot potentially serious oral health concerns such as cavities, gum disease, cysts, and even tumours that are often not noticeable to the untrained eye in their early stages.