How Should You Care For Your Smile At Home?

austin brushing and flossing

At home, you need to take action to control plaque and help safeguard your teeth against common issues like tooth decay and gum disease. Doing so not only keeps your smile whole, but helps maintain fresh breath and bright teeth. In today’s blog, your Austin, MN, dentists will talk about how to properly brush and floss!

Brushing and Flossing

First thing each morning, you need to brush your teeth. Be sure you have a toothbrush with soft bristles to prevent inadvertent enamel damage, and you can use electric or manual, your choice. You should brush for at least two minutes to adequately reach every available surface and remove food particles. The same should be done before bed too! Each evening, you should take an 18inch to 20inch length of floss tape, wrap each end around one of your thumbs, and hold it tight with your index finger. Run the tape up and down each side of every tooth, dipping below the gum line in a “c” motion. You can adjust your grip to use a clean piece of tape for each tooth. This removes what a toothbrush alone cannot, and is key to avoiding tooth decay and gum disease.

Watching What You Eat

Your meals, drinks, and snacks are factors too! Foods and snacks high in sugar and starch could leave behind particles for oral bacteria to break down, which creates plaque and tartar buildup, weakening your smile. Drinks with sugary content and high acidity do the same, and could also stain the teeth. Instead, drink plenty of water (cut back on soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, and even fruit juice), and consider more fruits, veggies, cheeses, low-fat yogurts, whole grain breads and crackers, and sugar-free gum.

Protecting Your Teeth

If you play sports or martial arts, we suggest a mouthguard to help reduce the risk of a chipped, cracked, or even knocked-out tooth. You can also protect your teeth by not chewing on ice, pencils, or pens, and taking time to care for your teeth to prevent weakened structure due to decay or infection. Protecting your teeth with good oral hygiene helps lower the cages of major complications, so you can smile with confidence and avoid discomfort.

If you have any questions about the daily care your smile needs, then contact our team today. We would love to address your concerns, and to also schedule your next checkup and cleaning visit too.

Talk To Our Austin, MN Dentist’s Office About Oral Hygiene

Potach And Mitchell Dental Clinic is ready to help you better understand your smile and how to keep it healthy. To find out more about keeping teeth and gums healthy at home. then contact your Austin, MN, dentists, Dr. Potach and Mitchell, by calling 507-437-6312.